The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has announced it will review the rules governing electricity meters to see what more can be done to help customers benefit more from smart meter technology.

It will look at what might be needed for increased take-up of smart meters and whether roles and responsibilities around metering under current rules need revising.

Additionally, it’ll look at what else could drive retail innovation so smart meters can propel the future energy market towards one that is two-sided, where all types of energy users actively buy and sell electricity.

In 2017 the AEMC introduced new rules around competition in metering, including transferring responsibilities for metering away from distribution network service providers. The reforms were designed to increase competition, encourage new products, services and pricing to benefit consumers and give them better information about their energy use.

“We committed to reviewing the change after three years to assess how the market had developed. During those three years, the energy landscape has changed significantly,” the AEMC writes in a statement.

“While smart meter use has not accelerated to the degree some people expect, this technology will be integral to work now under way to help the power system transition.”

The Commission is seeking stakeholder input on the regulatory framework. In a consultation paper released today we are asking a range of questions including:

• whether expectations around smart meter rollout have been met;
• what level of benefits consumers are experiencing from smart meters;
• what the barriers might be to wider smart meter rollout and use; and
• what services smart meters might be expected to deliver in future.

Submissions to the consultation paper are due on Thursday 11 February 2021.