Your electricity retailer – the one that sends you your bill – is responsible for arranging the installation. They will send a qualified installer to safely do the work.

Your electricity retailer will arrange to install a smart meter when the old meter is scheduled to be upgraded. They will send you a letter, text or email at least four business days before the installation.

The notice about your installation will specify a time window of five business days when the work will be done. If you have specific needs in relation to, for example, access to your property or business trading requirements, you can talk to your electricity retailer about options for scheduling your installation.

For most people, the installation will be a simple swap. You should check that the area around your meter box is clear and easy to get to. If there are locked gates or fences, make sure the installer can safely access them. If your meter box is safe and easy to access for the installer, there’s nothing you need to do.

In most Australian homes, the meter is in a meter box on an outside wall – often near the front or side of the house. In apartment blocks, meters are often grouped together in a locked meter room, cage or cupboard.

If your meter box is easy and safe to access, you don’t need to be home on the day – just like when the meter is read manually. If it is inside your property, or there are other access issues, you may need to be home to help the installer access the meter. If you are home, you can ask the installer for photo ID. They will never request any personal details or payments. If you’re unsure, contact your electricity company to check and make arrangements.

Your electricity will be off for a short time, usually around an hour, while the new meter is installed.

The electricity to your property will be turned off for a short period, usually around an hour, while the smart meter is installed. If you or someone in your home uses life support equipment, make sure you are registered as a life support customer with your electricity retailer. They must provide you with a specific appointment time for your installation and information to help you plan for the short power outage. If you or someone in your home is using life support equipment, your electricity retailer cannot interrupt your power supply without you agreeing to that date and timing. For a simple checklist developed with health and consumer organisations to help you plan for when your electricity supply is interrupted, visit the lifesupport.poweroutageplan website.

A certified and licensed installer, working for your electricity retailer, will install the smart meter. In most homes, the installer does not need to come inside – they only need access to your meter box, which is usually outside. If the meter is inside your home, the installer may need access. On the day you can ask the installer for photo ID. They will never request any personal details or payments.

If you live in a large apartment building or a townhouse where you share an electricity connection with your neighbours, smart meters should be installed in groups, to make the process as easy as possible for everyone. Because more meters are being replaced at the same time, there may be a longer period where you do not have electricity supply for the works to be completed. In addition to the notice that you will receive from your electricity retailer about meter replacement, you may also receive a notice informing you when your electricity supply will be interrupted for the installations.

Yes. Customers are not able to opt-out of a new meter under the rules for the national rollout. If you prefer, you can ask your electricity retailer to install a smart meter with its remote communications turned off.

If you ask for remote communications to be turned off, the meter will need to be read manually by a meter reader. This may mean your bills are sometimes based on estimates instead of actual usage and have to be corrected later. This might happen when the meter reader cannot access the meter to read it. Your electricity retailer may also include a fee for manual meter reads.

Turning off the remote communications functionality might also limit the types of electricity plans you can choose. Your electricity retailer can give you more information.

You can request this change either before installation or afterwards. If you decide after installation, your electricity retailer can send a technician to turn off the communications function, which may also involve a fee.

If you're unsure, or want to talk about your options, contact your electricity retailer using the contact details in your installation notice.

Sometimes, installers find safety or other issues with existing meter boxes – like old wiring, asbestos or damaged covers that don’t protect the wiring from the weather. These may need to be fixed before they can install a smart meter. If this happens, your installer may leave a note at your property about the issues they have identified, your options and next steps. Your electricity retailer may also contact you electronically to let you know. Under the national rollout, property owners cannot be forced to make repairs for a smart meter to be installed, providing there are no safety issues. If the property owner does not make the necessary repairs, the existing meter can continue to be used until it fails.

If your meter box or wiring is in very poor condition and could cause a fire, electric shock, or other safety risks, you may receive a notice about the defects that need to be fixed by an electrician to keep you safe and your electricity connected. If there is an immediate safety risk, your electricity may need to remain off until it can be fixed. However, if there is no safety risk and the issues only need to be fixed for a smart meter to be installed, you cannot be forced to make the repairs.

If you own the property, you are responsible for wiring and electrical fittings and the cost of an electrician to make repairs. If you rent, it is the responsibility of your landlord to address these issues.

A meter isolator is a protection device for your home or small business and is a requirement in South Australia in certain situations.

If the power goes out because of a fault in your property, you can flick the switch in your meter box to safely restore electricity. In most cases, under the retailer-led smart meter rollout an isolator is not required. This differs from meter installations that are initiated by the customer (such as installations due to a solar PV install) where a meter isolator will be required.

If an isolator switch is needed, it will be up to the retailer whether or not a cost will be involved for this work.

The smart meter installer or your electricity retailer can tell you what kind of electrician or other tradespeople are needed for your specific issue. Once the electrician or other tradespeople have finished the work, you just need to let your electricity retailer know. They will then schedule a new date to install the smart meter.