As an electricity retailer, you play a crucial role in the smart meter rollout.

Electricity retailers must comply with the new smart meter rules to support a safe and transparent smart meter rollout. The AER will monitor compliance and will take enforcement action where necessary, which may include penalties for non-compliance. 

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Protecting consumers during the rollout is an AER Compliance and Enforcement Priority

We will monitor participant compliance with metering and related billing obligations to support the consumer experience following a smart meter installation. This includes accurate and timely provision of metering data, estimated bills, timely resolution of billing disputes and accurate description of tariff arrangements in accordance with the Better Bills Guideline.

Our Compliance and Enforcement Priorities

Retailer guidance and compliance

We published guidance covering electricity retailers’ obligations and responsibilities to customers when deploying or replacing smart meters under the National Energy Retail Rules and National Electricity Rules. 

This Guidance is part of a broader AER work program related to the accelerated smart meter rollout. 

We will be releasing guidance covering explicit informed consent for tariff structure changes following smart meter installation and site defect notifications in September 2025.

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Obligations in notifying customers on smart meter installation

This Guidance covers electricity retailers’ obligations and responsibilities to customers when deploying or replacing smart meters under the National Energy Retail Rules and National Electricity Rules and sets out the AER’s compliance expectations.

Access the guidance

Legacy Meter Replacement Plans

The Legacy Meter Replacement Plan (LMRP) framework requires distribution network companies to develop a plan that details the replacement schedule of smart meters. 

As an electricity retailer, you are responsible for arranging for the replacement of legacy meters in accordance with the schedules in these plans.

Retailers and metering coordinators can also choose to replace meters ahead of schedule.

Our role at the AER is to review a distributor's LMRP to consider whether it meets the LMRP requirements as set out in the National Electricity Rules, and to publish the approved LMRP on our website. These plans will start to become available in the coming weeks.

We will also monitor electricity retailer compliance with these plans throughout the smart meter rollout.