Installation Costs for New Meter

[sailaja]

New Meter Installation request raised by Builder

Customer contacted AGL for setup date but no information provided by AGL or Builder on the costs involved

After a month I received a bill of $868 of which $824 is for installation?

I think customers need to be informed so that we can shop around if needed - Its terrible way of starting new year.

[allan735]

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@sailaja Click Herewrote:

New Meter Installation request raised by Builder

Customer contacted AGL for setup date but no information provided by AGL or Builder on the costs involved

After a month I received a bill of $868 of which $824 is for installation?

I think customers need to be informed so that we can shop around if needed - Its terrible way of starting new year.

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Being billed $824 for a meter installation without prior notification is unacceptable. Immediately contact AGL to dispute the charges, demanding a detailed breakdown and referencing consumer protection laws. Insist on written quotes and your explicit approval before any future work. Communicate clearly with the builder about cost transparency. Document all interactions. If AGL is unresponsive, contact your local consumer affairs agency or public utility commission. Emphasize the lack of informed consent, your right to shop around, and the unreasonable charge. This proactive approach can help resolve the current issue and prevent future billing surprises.

[Lester]

I was going to come on here to say it's usually the electricity suppliers task to install new meters, like SAPN here in SA.

I went to check what they charge for this service, some info found indicates new home meter installs are around $200 to $300, but then I found more info that states :

"We no longer install meters due to the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (AEMC) Power of Choice initiative. You will need to contact your retailer to organise a meter installation.

Apply for a new connection"

So if that is an Australia wide thing, it sounds like the electricity retailer is the go to for that service, and they get to choose ??

Not 100% sure, but I think there is only ONE electricity supplier for any one area / region, sometimes state like here in SA, so they probably just have no choice as to that side of things, unless just about anyone qualified can install a meter now.

These sorts of charges are USUALLY 'pass through' which means the retailers passes them on at whatever the cost is to them, no mark up.

If so, it could be that this new 'competitive' market initiative from AEMC might have done the usual, seen a blow out in costs for consumers.

Very confusing, and yes, I too think $824 seems exorbitant for a meter install.