TROY BELL MP
Member for Mount Gambier
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in State Parliament
New electricity guidelines 'not broad enough' says Bell
Tuesday December 18, 2018Published by Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell MP
New guidelines for electricity retailers are a step in the right direction says Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell, but are not broad enough to address problems regional contractors are facing.
From February next year, new Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) regulations will see retailers have to abide by strict timelines for the installation of new smart meters or the replacement of old or faulty meters.
Electricity retailers will face penalties of up to $100,000 if they fail to comply with the deadlines.
Mr Bell said he had been contacted by local contractors about a number of issues, including significant delays for smart-meter installation, not being able to contact retailers directly and the availability of installers.
“Contractors are telling me they are waiting anywhere from 2-7 months for new meters to be installed and in the meantime, having to use generators to complete jobs,” he said.
“There are also no meter-installers based in regional South Australia, which means contractors are having to wait weeks and months to see a meter-installer on site and customers are incurring heavy costs as a result.
“Power is a basic requirement on a worksite or home - it’s not good enough.
“I’m anticipating the new AEMC guidelines will address some of the issues contractors are currently experiencing, but I’m concerned they are not broad enough to encompass the range of issues faced in our region.”
Under the new rules:
· Retailers will have to provide new smart meters by a date agreed with customers or within six working days after a property has been connected to the network;
· If customers want to swap their old meter for a smart meter, retailers will have to agree on an installation time or it must be done within 15 business days;
· Replacing a faulty meter must also be done within 15 business days.
Mr Bell said he had written to Minister for Energy and Mining, Dan van Holst Pellekaan about the issues faced by local contractors, including Mount Gambier electrician Richard Waters.
Mr Bell said South Australian contractors and consumers deserved the ‘power of choice’ when it came to electricity supply.
“Regional contractors and consumers should not be at a disadvantage just because they live outside metropolitan areas.”