Who arranges the meter, network by network
| Who arranges it | What the network says | |
|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid (Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter) | Your retailer, through its approved installer | New and replacement meters installed since 1 December 2017 must be smart meters. A faulty meter goes to the retailer, which should replace it within 15 business days. |
| Endeavour Energy (Greater Western Sydney, Illawarra, South Coast) | Your retailer | Retailers install, read and maintain smart meters, and NSW homes are set to move to smart meters by 2030. |
| Energex (South East Queensland) | Your retailer | The retailer appoints a metering coordinator, and Energex looks after the poles, wires and supply. |
| SA Power Networks | Your retailer | SA Power Networks says it can't help with meter alterations. |
| Evoenergy (ACT) | Your retailer | A new installation or a required upgrade gets a smart (Type 4) meter. |
| TasNetworks | Not TasNetworks | Meters installed since 1 December 2017 aren't owned or maintained by TasNetworks. For new solar, it passes the metering request to your retailer. |
| CitiPower and Powercor (Victoria) | The network | They own and manage the meter. Upgrades are applied for by a registered electrical contractor through the eConnect portal, with a Certificate of Electrical Safety. |
| Jemena (north-west Melbourne) | Through Jemena's portal | Metering alterations go through the Jemena Electricity Portal with an Electrical Works Request and a Certificate of Electrical Safety. |
| Western Power (WA main grid) | Western Power | It's fitting more than 1.2 million advanced meters by mid 2027 with its own technicians, and the power is off for about 30 minutes. |
We haven't confirmed the process for Essential Energy, Ergon Energy, United Energy, AusNet Services, Horizon Power or Power and Water. If you're on one of those, ask your retailer first.
Dark, old meter board? Don't drill or sand it
Essential Energy says homes built before 1988 may have a meter board containing bonded asbestos, and black or dark brown backing boards made before 1987 can contain it as well. Leave it alone, tell the meter installer and any electrician before they start, and ask how they'll manage it. Asbestos switchboards explains the options.
When an electrician is part of it
The meter installer fits the meter, not the board it sits on. Essential Energy notes that meter boards belong to the owner of the premises, so if the installer says the board needs work first, that's for a licensed electrician you arrange.
Electricians also get involved when the meter changes as part of bigger work: a switchboard upgrade, solar, a battery, an EV charger or going to three phase. Ausgrid notes that homes over 20 years old that haven't been rewired may need a meter upgrade when adding an EV charger, with the metering side going through your retailer.
In New South Wales, service work between the network and the meter is often done by a Level 2 electrician. Endeavour Energy says an ASP2 usually does that part of a basic connection while your retailer sets up the meter.
What you can sort out yourself
You can
- Ask your retailer whether a smart meter is due and who will fit it.
- Clear a path to the meter box and keep dogs in on the day.
- Let your retailer know before any planned outage if someone at home relies on life support equipment.
Leave to a licensed electrician
- Repairing or replacing a damaged or undersized meter board.
- Switchboard and meter panel work before or alongside the meter.
- Service line work, which in NSW is done by a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider.
Who we'd call first
We'd start with the retailer, because on most networks they arrange the meter and its installer. On CitiPower, Powercor or Western Power, the network is the contact instead. Only bring in an electrician when the meter box needs work, or when the meter is part of a bigger job like solar or an EV charger. Then find one who does meter box and switchboard work regularly, so the board and the meter are planned together.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.