Smart Meters Explained: Type 4 Metering in NSW

How It Works

A Type 4 smart meter records your electricity usage in short intervals — typically every 30 minutes — and sends that data directly to your retailer over a communications network, rather than relying on a manual quarterly read.

This eliminates estimated bills entirely and enables time-of-use pricing, where electricity costs less during off-peak hours and more during peak demand periods, giving you the ability to shift usage and reduce costs if your retailer offers a time-of-use plan.

Who Needs One Installed

New builds, granny flats, and any property requiring separate metering all need Type 4 meters installed as standard. Many existing properties are also progressively transitioned as part of retailer-led rollouts, but you can request an installation directly.

Properties adding solar systems require a bi-directional Type 4 meter capable of measuring both consumption and export — a standard consumption-only meter can't be used for a solar connection.

The Installation Process

Installation must be carried out by an authorised Level 2 ASP and formally registered with your retailer to activate interval billing. We handle both the physical installation and the retailer registration as part of our smart and solar metering service, so there's no separate step for you to manage.