Meter testing

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) creates and amends the National Electricity Rules (NER). These rules govern the operation of the National Electricity Market (NEM).

These rules mandate the accuracy standards that the metering equipment used to measure and record the amount of electricity supplied to our customers must meet.

Meter Maintenance Testing

CitiPower and Powercor have developed a meter maintenance program to ensure our meters adhere to these standards.

As part of that program, a letter is sent to each customer involved in the meter maintenance program advising of the need to perform testing, the intended window of date/times and giving notice of the likely duration of any planned interruption.

There is no charge for this work. CitiPower and Powercor perform 3 types of Testing;

1. Meter Testing

Our technician will knock on your door prior to commencing work, and will be carrying identification.

If there is no answer and there is access to the meter and switchboard, a routine maintenance test will be completed and a calling card left on site to advise you of the power interruption.

Clear access to the meter is required to carry out the necessary tests.

During this routine meter test, the electricity meter and your electricity supply will need to be disconnected for approximately 45 to 60 minutes.

The meter test will occur between the hours of 8:00 am – 5:00 pm on weekdays or 9:00 am – 4:00 pm on Saturday.

2. Current transformer meter testing

The National Electricity Rules mandate a maximum period of 5 years between tests of meters connected to current transformers.

During this test there will be no interruption to your electricity supply.

This test will occur between the hours of 7:30 am – 5:00 pm on weekdays or 9:00 am – 4:00 pm on Saturdays.

Clear access to the meter and current transformers is required to undertake the test.

3. Current Transformer Scoping and testing

The NER mandate that the maximum period between tests of Current Transformers that form part of a revenue metering installation is 10 years.

Before our technician performs this test, they will need to perform an investigation, otherwise known as a ‘scope’, of the equipment at your site. This scope will occur between the hours of 7:30 am – 5:00 pm on weekdays.

The current transformer test may be scoped on the day of the site visit (without supply interruption) and our technician will make every effort to negotiate a supply interruption and test date and time that is suitable to you; or if you cannot be contacted on the day of the site visit and your installation is not currently under load, the current transformer test will be completed (with supply interruption) on the day of the site visit.

Please note that in order to test your metering current transformers, your electricity supply will need to be disconnected for approximately 45 to 60 minutes.

Clear access to the meter, current transformers and switchboard is required to carry out the required tests.

Meter Investigations

CitiPower and Powercor also undertake on site Meter Investigations where an individual meter or its communication may have failed, and has been detected remotely.

In these cases, a letter is sent to each customer involved in a meter investigation advising of; the need to attend the site to investigate the cause of the failure, the intended date window of attendance and notice of the likely duration of any planned interruption should the meter require replacement.

There is no charge for this work.

Our technician will knock on your door prior to commencing work, and will be carrying identification.

If there is no answer and there is access to the meter and switchboard, an inspection of the meter and communications equipment will be undertaken and enhancement of the communications equipment, or replacement of the meter will be undertaken. Where the meter is replaced, a calling card is left on site to advise you of the power interruption.

Clear access to the meter is required to carry out the investigation.

During this routine investigation, the electricity meter and your electricity supply may need to be disconnected for approximately 45 to 60 minutes, to rectify the communications and meter failure issue.

If you have any further inquiries you can contact CitiPower and Powercor at: MOGpower@powercor.com.au