Smart power meter customers across NSW are to benefit from savings and an improved connection experience with restrictions on remote connection and disconnection of meters now lifted.
Executive Director of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE), Andrew Lewis said that by allowing the remote function, customers’ connection fees were expected to fall by at least 75 per cent.
Mr Lewis said the changes also meant customers would have much quicker access to power once they moved into a new address.
“We expect connection fees to be in the order of $10 to $20 rather than the present situation where customers are faced with anything from $85 to $530,” Mr Lewis said.
“Customers will no longer have to wait days for an electricity technician to attend the premises before they can switch the lights on – it’ll be a matter of hours for most customers,” he said.
“By relaxing this restriction, we’re giving retailers an increased incentive to roll out more smart meters across NSW delivering benefits to customers, particularly those in regional NSW who face higher fees for technicians to come out to their property.”
Mr Lewis said that according to the Australian Energy Market Operator 23 per cent of NSW customers had smart meters.
He said existing national consumer protections for vulnerable customers, such as those facing financial stress or with life support equipment, would continue to apply to ensure that no customer would be worse off.
