There are several ways to determine whether or not you have a smart meter, if you don't already know.
You can:
- ask your current retailer,
- consider when the meter was installed,
- consider whether your meter can transmit and receive data over the internet,
- check your bill for time-of-use rates or demand charges, and
- look at your meter.
Ask your retailer
Ask your retailer if you have a smart meter. They should know. If they tell you that you don't have one, consider asking them to install one. They will have to do so within 2-4 weeks and once installed, you will be able to rapidly switch to iO Energy and instantly access our fantastic time-of-use pricing.
Consider when your meter was installed
This is a reliable method. Since December 2017 and by Federal law, only smart meters can be installed in homes and small businesses. If you have installed a new or replacement meter since then it will be a smart meter.
Consider whether your meter can transmit and receive data over the internet
This is a reliable method. A key part of what makes a smart meter, 'smart,' is the mobile internet connection that allows energy data to be automatically and remotely transmitted.
If you do not require manual meter reads or have access to an online portal that updates your energy usage data on a daily basis, then you will have a smart meter.
One way that South Australians can check this, is by registering to use the SAPN meter portal. When you switch to iO Energy we will also provide you with access to an online self-service portal of our own.
Check your bill for time-of-use rates or demand charges
This is a fairly reliable method. Electricity bills often hint at which type of electrical meter you have.
If your electrical bill states that you have a smart meter, then you will have a smart meter! Many companies' bills do not show this information though.
If your electrical retailer is charging you three or more electrical prices depending on the time of day, there is a good chance you have a smart meter. You will at the least have an 'interval meter' that can measure your electrical usage across different time intervals. Whether or not it is a smart meter with an internet connection, though, is a different matter.
If your electrical retailer is charging you demand charges based on the intensity of your power consumption (i.e. kW), there is a good chance that you have a smart meter. Although like the above, it may not necessarily have a mobile internet connection.
If your electrical retailer is charging only one or two (i.e. peak and off-peak) rates for energy, there is a good chance you do not have a smart meter. Typically basic meters only support single rate pricing, although they can sometimes be paired up to enable two-rate pricing.
Note that being charged single or two-rate pricing does not necessarily mean you don't have a smart meter though. Some retailers simply fail to offer time-of-use prices despite being able to.
Look at your meter
This can be an unreliable method, unless you know what to look for.
If your electrical meter or meter box has an antennae, it will be a smart meter. Basic meters do not transmit and receive data via the internet, so do not require antennas.
If your electrical meter has a mobile SIM card, it will be a smart meter. Smart meters use 4G internet connections to communicate data.
If your electrical meter has digital display, it won't necessarily be a smart meter because there are basic meters with digital displays. But if it doesn't have a digital display, it definitely is not a smart meter. All smart meters have digital displays.