The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is seeking feedback on a draft rule that would see households and small businesses benefit from real-time data on their energy use starting from 2028.
It comes as millions of Australians embrace the shift to a cleaner energy system and the cost savings that consumer energy resources (CER) such as solar, batteries, EVs and flexible energy use, such as with timer-set devices, can achieve.
AEMC Chair Anna Collyer said the take-up of new technologies makes Australia’s energy system rich in data, and there is a growing opportunity to coordinate this information to provide better products and services to consumers.
“Real-time data allows consumers to benefit from a direct data stream about their energy use, received within seconds,” Ms Collyer said.
“It can help consumers to manage their CER at home to lower bills, and can also be used for other services that deliver value for consumers while supporting the integration of CER into the grid – which can help lower overall system costs.
“Consumers could choose to consent to sharing their data with a broader range of service providers, supporting innovation and new and better services that create value for all consumers.”
The AEMC is proposing to require new smart meters installed to have real-time data communications capability from 1 January 2028, as a measure to unlock these benefits.
Ms Collyer said the recommendation takes in extensive feedback and analysis, including commissioned research from Oakley-Greenwood, which reveals that accessing real-time data directly from the meter would be cheaper in the long-term than through alternative access devices.
“Stakeholders asked us to investigate the value of real-time data, and how access to real-time data might be enabled at no upfront charge in the near term to assist consumers with their bills, and we have come up with a pragmatic solution that strikes the right balance,” Ms Collyer said.
“This would be facilitated through a specification change to update smart meter technology, which we have found is a relatively low-cost solution for consumers, amounting to approximately $0.66 per meter, per year, as part of a regular electricity bill.
“Consumers would be able to access real-time data from the smart meter at no upfront charge once the meter is upgraded from 2028 onwards. For consumers who see value in accessing the data stream earlier, this will be enabled at a reasonable cost to the consumer seeking access.
“We consider this is a relatively low-cost measure, more cost-effective than what was proposed in the initial rule change request, and that the costs would be outweighed by the broad benefits afforded for all consumers, in the near-term and into the future.
The AEMC is now seeking feedback on its recommendations which include:
- enabling all consumers to request access to real-time data from smart meters from 1 January 2028
- enabling representatives appointed by customers (third-party service providers) to also access the data, subject to customer consent
- changing meter minimum service specifications so that all new meters installed from 2028 would be capable of communicating real-time data with no upfront cost
- ensuring consumers who desire real-time capability prior to a scheduled meter upgrade have an option to choose to retrofit or replace their meter for a reasonable price, or install a different device to access real-time data, consistent with current practice.
- consumer and cybersecurity protections, such as accreditations for third-parties, requirements not to disclose real-time data without the consent of customers.
The AEMC is holding an online forum on 2 October for stakeholders to ask questions and provide further feedback in response to the draft determination.
Feedback is being accepted on the draft determination and more preferable draft rule until 23 October 2025.
Visit the project page for more information and contact details.
Media: Jessica Rich, 0459 918 964, media@aemc.gov.au