Overview of metering and metering data

This article answers those frequently asked questions about metering and is intended as a general guide only. If you have further or more specific questions, please reach out to us to ask your regulatory question.

Energy meters are the device used to measure the amount of energy (gas or electricity) used by a consumer or premises over a set time interval. While traditionally this reading was done using an analogue (or accumulation meter) on a monthly or quarterly basis, the adoption of smart meters in the sector allows for more frequent readings, providing important insights on how and when electricity is used.

What is a smart meter?

A smart meter (also known as an advanced meter) measures when and how much electricity is used at your premises. This information is then sent back your energy retailer remotely. The AER’s Smart Meters and You factsheet provides more information on smart meter installation and your rights.

What does a metering coordinator do?

The Metering Coordinator has overall responsibility for metering services at a customer’s connection point within a distribution or transmission system.

The roles and responsibilities of a Metering Coordinator are outlined in clause 7.3 of the National Electricity Rules and include activities such as arranging for the:

• provision, installation and maintenance of metering infrastructure
• collection, processing, retention and delivery of metering data, and
• management of access to and security of the metering installation.

The role of a Metering Coordinator was established to encourage metering competition in the NEM by creating a party who is independent from Retailers and Distributors. See here for more information on the AER’s ring-fencing framework and the separation of contestable and monopoly services.

For residential customer connections, the Metering Coordinator is appointed by the retailer. Your retailer will choose a contractor, or metering coordinator, who will install and maintain your meter. More information on the role of the Metering Coordinator is available on AEMO’s website, including information on registration requirements.

Do I own my metering data?

In short, while you can request this information, you do not 'own' data from the meter at your premises. 

Under current regulatory framework, the Metering Coordinator can only provide access to energy data only to a person and for a purpose that is permitted under the National Electricity Rules. If a consumer wishes to access their metering data they can request this through their retailer. To allow a third party, such as an authorised customer representative, to request this information, the customer needs to provide consent for this request.

The process which enables data access to customers or their authorised representative is provided within the metering data provision procedures.

What about the Consumer Data Right?

The Consumer Data Right is designed to allow consumers to safely share the data that businesses hold about them. In May 2018, the Australian Government announced that energy data would be included in the Consumer Data Right (CDR). This allows consumers to authorise third parties to access their energy data. By empowering consumers to share their data more easily, this enables them to get a better deal on a range of energy products and services.

Under the Consumer Data Right for the energy sector, a primary data holder is an energy retailer with whom the consumer has a relationship and holds data sets including:

• customer data
• account data
• billing data
• tailored tariff data.

Do meters need to be approved?

Depending on the type of meter, they must adhere to different requirements under the National Measurement Act and the National Electricity Rules (NER).

In addition to specifications such as device accuracy requirements in the NER, AEMO is responsible for the development and maintenance of the metrology procedures which apply to AEMO, registered participants, metering providers, and metering data providers, in relation to connection points in the NEM.

The National Measurement Institute is the responsible for developing, maintaining and monitoring adherence to the National Measurement Act. This includes ensuring that electricity, water and gas meters that are used to calculate billing are pattern approved and verified.

Pattern approval is where an instrument is tested against our national or international standards. This determines the measurement accuracy of the instrument and whether the instrument retains this accuracy under a range of environmental and operating conditions.

More information on their role in the energy sector can be found on their website.

I’ve heard people talk about a ‘parent’ meter – what is that?

Some connections to the electricity system, such as those found at apartment blocks, shopping centres and caravan parks, can operate as an embedded network . An embedded network has ‘parent’ and ‘child’ meters. 

The ‘parent meter’ is at the main connection point for the premises, where it connects to the distribution or transmission system. This measures the total energy used for the entire embedded network (like an apartment building). While a ‘child’ meter sits behind the ‘parent’ and measurers the energy used for a customer’s connection within the embedded network, such as an apartment within an apartment building, or a shop within a large shopping centre.

More information on embedded networks and what that means for consumers can be found here.

Figure 1 below shows the typical metering configuration for a residential embedded network compared to customers outside an embedded network.

Source: AER, Review of the AER exemptions framework for embedded networks – Issues Paper, November 2023, p. 12.

I want to split certain appliances in my home or business onto a second meter – can I do this?

You can but you don’t have to!

The AEMC’s Unlocking CER benefits through flexible trading is the first step in creating more options for consumers in households and small businesses to be able to use and manage flexible loads as they choose.

These new rules enable:

• the establishment of secondary settlement points at a small customer premises, removing the need (and cost) to establish a second physical connection to the distribution network
• in-built measurement capability in technology such as batteries and EV chargers to be used, removing the need to install a separate meter to the device

For consumers in households and businesses, this will mean more products and service options that suit their needs and preferences and get the most value out of their CER.

Interested to learn more? Check out our article on Unlocking CER Benefits Through Flexible Trading rule change - final determination or read more about the rule change or expected benefits on the AEMC’s Unlocking CER Benefits webpage.

Further questions

We understand metering can be a very complicated part of the energy regulatory framework. Still have questions? Contact us here or ask your regulatory question through our portal.