Smart Meter

[W-L]

We have recently transitioned to monthly bills off a smart meter installed a few moths ago. I have been in the habit, from time to time, of keeping my own record of meter readings, but now, on the bill there are these sentences - "Your electricity usage is measured by an interval meter. This means you won't see a start or end read on your bill. Instead,
the total amount of your electricity usage is shown" and there is no actual meter reading on my bill. This looks like there is no way I can check what I see on the meter with what I get charged. Surely there is some way that I can verify my bill is acurate. If there isn't, AGL can charge what they like  or make a mistake and I would have no proof it is wrong.

[Natalie-AGL · Accepted solution]

Hello @W-L, Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us. 

I appreciate your concern with not being able to see a start or end read on your bills or being able to submit your own meter reads. 

The benefit of having a smart meter is that the meter records your usage in intervals every 15 - 30 minutes, you can monitor your usage via the AGL app or My Account. 

We have further information of the benefits of having a smart meter on our website. 

Hope this helps! 

Kind Regards, 

Natalie 

[NeilC · Accepted solution]

@Natalie-AGL 

Natalie, you should know that AGL is setting meters to read at 5 min intervals.

I can get my 5 min data from SA Power Networks as a download file.

[Colin-AGL]

We are each month receiving at least one day where Solar Sold and Electicity Bought charged are estimated. These estimates show no relationship to any other days of the month . This normally occurs on the last billing day , but this month it's 3 days early. 

Last month I had a phone conversation with an AGL employee who could see what my argument was and he said I would have a reply with 14days . That didn't happen.

The estimate figures could be understood if they were at all similar to the rest of the month . This is never the case.

I have had this estimated situation for 3 out of the last 5 months. Does AGL do this to all its customers? If so there can only be one reason and that is to increase the amount billed, therefore increase AGLs income.

Why does no one reply?

[matt_f1]

Hi @Colin-AGL 

Hope you are still on these forums. The same is happening to myself. Did you find a solution? I tried to contact AGL chat but they want meter readings, and ask irrelevant questions. I will go to electricity ombudsmen if no result and I suggest you do too.

Cheers,

Matt

[NeilC]

@matt_f1 

Hi,

I did say to you to PM (Private Message) and I would convert your data from your download file.

But you are carrying on like a two bob watch.

Go to the ombudsman and wait for 3 months.

Did you look at your data as I suggested....

Good luck

[Deepesh_AGL]

Hi matt_f1, Thanks for reaching out and we would like to apologise for the poor experience. I will send you a private message shortly so we can discuss further. Cheers, Deepesh

[rjm1]

I had a smart meter installed a few weeks ago. I'm not seeing any updated usage on My Account. In fact, my last quarter ended Jan 17. My Account is still showing usage for this quarter, no updated data at all.  

[NeilC]

@rjm1 

When you switched from your analogue meter to a smart meter you should realise that your smart meter will only record your data from "a few weeks ago" till the 17th.

So the bill ending 17th will include a manual reading from the start of your last billing period to "a few weeks ago".

We have been on a smart meter for many years and live in SA. So we have to wait until data from the day after the billing period has appeared due to the 1/2 hour time difference.

Generally it can take up to two to three days before the bill appears.

I would suggest that you also look at your current electricity rates to ensure you are on the best plan for you. Staying on single rates will cost you money.

If you have added solar and or batteries you definitely should look your rates and times.

[rjm1]

The issue I was raising is that I understood that I should be able to monitor my usage "almost" in real time on My Account". This is not happening. In fact, what I see is my usage for my last quarter, which ended 4 days ago.