Smart Meters - QLD laws, regulations and rules and best approach for rebuttal.
One of our members is personally experiencing over reach with this issue and has painstakingly researched what the regulations are and what can be done about it.
They have
provided a very comprehension document for our Network. (Too large to attach here) but can be downloaded from our website under Property / Asset Protection / Smart Meters.
https://www.livingcommunity.com.au/smart-meters-qld-laws-regulations-and-rules-and-best-approach-for-rebuttal/
Some key items regarding Smart Meters worth noting:
1. From First of December 2025, they are only required to
give you ONE notice and can install in 4 days (range is 4-60days). This may catch some people out if they don't monitor their email. I am looking to get this done and dusted before then with the next step being an estoppel, then either ombudsman/ACCC if they continue to bug me. Also considering the NoL with InPower.
2. If you have a padlock from your distributor, they are now giving keys to the Meter Coordinators (I.e. the company upgrading your meter)
3. The meter upgrade can be suspended, then cancelled, if you have faulty wiring, a full electrical
panel or asbestos as this is your responsibility and they can't force you to spend the money to remediate it. 😉
4. They are prioritising dwellings in 'disadvantaged suburbs'; those with access hazards (e.g.dogs, acreage with more difficult access) and those with solar panels
and batteries.
5. There are civil penalties for retailers who don’t follow the rules which is an interesting read. The (National Energy Retail Rules) NERR is applicable to us and how theirs and our obligations.
6. They use the word ‘propose’ which is “to put forward for consideration” and in their NERR rules and the state acts they talk of Replace (in terms of us giving them access to our properties). Replace means substitution- to use in place of something else, WITH THE SAME FUNCTION.
7. When they have scheduled a replacement without my consent, I have phoned the Meter Coordinator (in our case PlusES) and just cancelled the appointment stating it isn’t authorised yet by me and still in discussions with my retailer, and must be a mistake. She asked if I wanted to reschedule or cancel, I said cancel.
Interesting that they “can’t” send you a confirmation email of this but a text message should come through to the nominated phone saying the appt was cancelled. (Even though there was no initial text of the scheduled appt). They were lovely to deal with.
8. Even though they push
the 100% target they acknowledge in their documents that approx 15% are expected not to be done due to defects or access. 😊
