Suspect issue with my electricity meter

vivekt — Sat, 30 May 2026 23:54:22 GMT

Hi,

I am being getting huge bills on electricity for last 3 Qauters. I thought the issue is with energry provider rates and hence I moved to AGL. Even with AGL estimates it looks like I will be hitting the same bill as before. I am very consciously using all my appliances during non-peak hours but still usage looks like. Can the meter be inspected for any fault.

Re: Suspect issue with my electricity meter

Lester — Sun, 31 May 2026 21:42:07 GMT

Electricity meters are extremely reliable, but do rarely get issues.

Maybe to start, just a few things I advise you check . . .

Is your meter an older analogue meter, that needs to be read, or a smart meter ?

If analogue needing reading, are these last 3 bills actual reading bills, or estimated reads ?
With AGL and your old retailer.

I have seen this before at my workshop, which is behind a locked gate most of the time, I had many estimated bills that ALWAYS seem to be way overestimated (I once received a $25,000 bill when my quarterly usage was generally around $300 !).

Since that, I would phone through my readings near end of quarters, and in more recent times regularly send through a meter read via the app, especially near end of each quarter.

Has your usage seemingly gone up, or plan type or tariffs changed drastically on the last 3 bills, compared to the last lower bills ?

Likely your last retailer bills will show similar if you have them or can access them.
(It might be a steep price rise from a previous year's July 1st price increases.)

Yes, your last retailer will be different daily supply and / or tariffs most likely, but you should be able to get a comparison of last usage figures / tariffs with them and see if vastly different to AGL (this should have been checked before switching though).

If usage has increased significantly, check all appliances have not developed a problem, your bill should show any fixed CL items like a HWS, watch usage if using fixed air conds or elec heaters, or use a $20 power point meter to check fridge, freezer, other plug in devices.

I find little difference between most retail suppliers, some charge more for daily supply charge, and a little less tariffs, and others vice versa, sometimes this can make a difference to some types of home usage, but most times it evens out to about the same.

Power prices have risen so sharply in the past few years, often 10% every year, mostly though it is applied from each July 1st when new energy charges are applied by power providers that the AEMC provides (just announced for 2026/2027 in the past few weeks).
Again this year (with very few exceptions), this July will see most consumers in Australia paying about 10% - 11% more.

If all that fails to explain the increases, you can request a meter check, but it will most likely be ok.

You usually pay a fee for the meter company to come out, which if faulty is generally reimbursed.

Good luck with it.

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Suspect issue with my electricity meter

Re: Suspect issue with my electricity meter