Keepin’ it real: the value of actual meter readsSubmission in response to the Australian Energy Market Commission’s Draft Rule Determination on the National Electricity Amendment (Meter Read and Billing Frequency) Rule 2016

In this submission the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) commented on the AEMC’s Draft Rule Determination on the National Electricity Amendment (Meter Read and Billing Frequency) Rule 2016. The Draft Determination seeks to limit Ergon Energy Queensland’s original rule change proposal, and requires retailers to issue bills to customers on standard retail contracts at least once every 100 days to increase the likelihood of customers receiving bills based on actual meter data. PIAC believes this will protect consumers from unnecessary estimated bills, subsequent back-bills and customer confusion around receiving multiple bills. PIAC agrees that the Draft Determination delivers clear and tangible benefits to consumers, which outweigh the unfavourable impact of a delayed bill of up to eight days. PIAC supports this rule change as it strikes an appropriate balance between accuracy and frequency of billing where advanced metering (and therefore remote reads) is unavailable. PIAC recommends that the AEMC extend the Draft Determination to market retail contract customers who are billed on a quarterly basis so that they can also benefit from the rule change.