Smart Meters

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. You will receive a postcard in the mail 60 days prior to your installation.

Next steps: To take advantage of your new smart meter, please make sure you create an online account with El Paso Electric. Visit

will receive smart meters between. You will receive a postcard in the mail 60 days prior to your installation.Next steps: To take advantage of your new smart meter, please make sure you create an online account with El Paso Electric. Visit Manage My Account at epelectric.com to get started. You can also manage your account by downloading the El Paso Electric app in the Apple Store or Google Play

If you're trying to cut down on your energy bill, it might help to take a look at your electricity meter.

It measures how much electricity a household uses and electricity companies use this information to calculate their energy bill.

For decades, most electricity meters were something that looked a bit like the mechanics of a clock.

But since the s, digital smart meters have become more popular &#; and they come with a bunch of benefits.

Here's how they can help you save money and how you can get one at your place.

What is a smart meter?

A smart meter is a device with a digital two-way communication system that measures how much electricity you use and when.

Smart meters have been in Australia since the early s and were originally introduced to make billing easier.

It performs a similar task to the older style "spinning wheel" analogue meter, but it can give better information about electricity usage.

The old-style meter, sometimes called an accumulation meter, could only tell you about the total amount of electricity consumed.

Here's what the older-style electricity meter looks like. (ABC News)

How does it work?

A smart meter records a household's energy usage in five or 30-minute intervals.

The data is then automatically transmitted to your energy retailer.

This way, your retailer can read the meter remotely, instead of visiting the property &#; and thus eliminating estimated bills.

The Australian Department of Energy says:

If your premises uses a smart meter, the need for estimated readings will be reduced. However, there may be some limited circumstances in which an estimate is used.

Energy Efficiency Council policy and research senior advisor Alex St John says smart meters can provide real-time information about energy usage.

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"They can tell you not only the total amount of electricity used, but also how much was used at what time," Mr St John said.

"Households can then use this information to help them save energy, or better manage their energy costs."

If you've got solar panels, a smart meter can also record how much electricity was exported back to the grid.

"This type of information is really valuable as the power network transitions towards high levels of renewable energy," Mr St John says.

"It can help us figure out how much energy is being consumed at a household level at any given time, which helps us manage the supply-demand balance right throughout the day."

How do I know what meter I have?

You'll have to look in your power box.

These are typically on the outside of your building and look like a metal cabinet.

Houses usually have them installed on the side of the house.

The meters for units, townhouses, and warehouses are also found outside, while all the meters for apartments are typically stored together in a room or cupboard.

If you can't find your electricity meter outside, try looking in your hallway, laundry, garage, or any external wall.

Are smart meters compulsory?

That depends.

Smart meters have become the default for new meters being installed Australia-wide. 

As of December , national rules require that all new and replacement meters be smart meters. So you may already have one in your home.

This does mean you're no longer able to purchase traditional metres.

However, there is no requirement to upgrade if you already have an old meter installed that is still in working order.

But, if your old meter is faulty or has reached its end of life, it must be replaced with a smart meter.

If you live in Victoria, smart meters have been compulsory for residences since .

The Australian Energy Market Commission has recommended a 100 per cent uptake of smart meters by .

The review found that an "accelerated rollout would help customers reduce their household bills in the short-term and provide savings for all energy users in the longer-term".

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How do I get a smart meter installed?

If you currently don't have a smart meter but want one, you can contact your electricity retailer directly.

But keep in mind some retailers may not offer smart meter upgrades just for the sake of it. In that case, you may want to shop around.

For more single phase smart meterinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

How much does a smart meter cost?

That depends on your retailer.

You could be charged a lump sum up-front, a monthly fee over a period (absorbed into your supply charge), or nothing at all.

Energy Consumers Australia CEO Brendan French says consumers shouldn't be charged to have a smart meter installed.

"As smart meters will benefit everyone, including the whole system, it shouldn't fall on individual customers to pay the significant installation costs," Dr French said.

"Most consumers won't face up-front charges for straightforward installations.

"However, where there are associated costs, for example, if rewiring is required, governments should look at ways to step in and help customers who cannot afford them."

For example, Alinta Energy is offering customers a free upgrade service to a smart meter &#; but if extra work is needed for a safe meter exchange, additional costs may be incurred. 

Mr St John says if a household is installing solar panels or a battery, which requires a smart meter, they may be charged a fee for doing so, which is usually in the $100-$200 range.

Make sure to ask your retailer about any ongoing costs that may be associated with installation.

Will a smart meter save me money?

It could, but not in the way you might think.

A smart meter won't automatically lower your power bill.

But, it may be able to make suggestions on where you could cut costs, thanks to the live-usage information.

Dr French says smart meters can provide consumers with the tools and services they need to keep their energy use and bills down.

"They help consumers save on electricity costs in a number of ways including:

• Smart meters mean people can see how much energy they're using without having to wait three months for their electricity bill;
• Having access to frequent data allows consumers to adapt their energy use to benefit from cheaper electricity periods;
• Bills from energy retailers would be more accurate, doing away with estimates;
• Having access to their electricity use data means households and businesses have the necessary information to find the best energy deal."

Digital meters make it easy to monitor your usage so you can identify when your electricity usage peaks. (ABC News: Hanan Dervisevic)

But Mr St John says there's a catch to these money-saving methods.

"To get the most from smart meters, households need to actively engage with their energy usage to save money, which is something the vast majority of Australian households don't currently do."

So, to gain bill-saving elements from a smart meter, households will need to change their behaviour &#; determine where the majority of their power is going and modify their power output.

Do I need to go on to a time-of-use rate with a smart meter?

You don't have to, but you can.

If you have a smart meter, you can stay on a flat rate, which is where there are no price changes for different times of the day when you're using energy.

Or, you can opt for a flexible or time-of-use plan with your retailer.

A time-of-use tariff works by charging several different rates based on the time of day energy is consumed.

Energy NSW says:

You can save money by using your home appliances during off-peak periods which are typically between 10pm and 7am, or shoulder periods (between 7am and 2pm) when the prices are lower.

But keep in mind that time-of-use tariffs can be more expensive, especially if you use most of your electricity during peak time (4pm to 8pm).

How do I read a smart meter?

Unlike traditional smart meters, you can't get a reading by looking at the meter itself.

Instead, you have a couple of options:

• Visit your energy retailer's website: Log onto your account via the web or app and see the detailed data from your smart meter
• Invest in an in-home display: It connects to your smart meter and shows you at any given time how much electricity you're using and how much it's costing you

Can my supply be cut off remotely?

Yes, but there are lots of rules around cutting off power.

As pointed out in a NSW government smart meter factsheet, the company must give warnings about this before switching off supply:

"You will not be remotely disconnected without your agreement unless the retailer has provided you with multiple warning notices and made attempts to contact you in line with the National Energy Retail Rules."

The National Energy Retail Rules block companies from disconnecting power under a range of circumstances, including severe weather events, pending energy rebate applications and if there's an unresolved complaint.

Here's more from the NSW government:

"There are certain circumstances when a retailer can disconnect a customer without their agreement.

"The same rules and consumer protections apply regardless of whether the customer has a manual meter or a smart meter."

And power companies can't remotely disconnect power at a premise registered as having life-support equipment.

However, the rules do allow a power company to cut off a premise for "illegally using energy" without notice.

Should I be worried about my privacy?

Concerns have been raised that energy companies can now draw insights into the activities of a household, such as what appliances are in use at what times.

"While there are privacy safeguards in place, anyone concerned should talk to their energy retailer about how data is handled, stored, and protected," Mr St John said.

Can I turn the communications feature off?

Yep, but it may cost you more.

"You can ask your retailer for a smart meter with the communications feature turned off so that it does not transmit data remotely.

"These are commonly known as a Type 4A meter.

"However, a technician will need to turn off the communication feature if the smart meter has been installed, and do regular meter readings at your premises."

You may have to pay a fee for the feature to be turned off and each time a meter reading is carried out.

Editor's note 21/03/: This article was updated to include information about disabling a smart meter's communication feature and remote power disconnection.

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