Learning how to read your meter is a handy way to keep track of your electricity usage as well as document the performance of your solar power system.

Reading your meter is easy once you know how, but before you start, you need to identify the type of meter that’s installed on your property.

In most cases, the type of meter installed in your home depends on your electricity provider. Choose from the following providers below and click the link to find your relevant instructions:

SP AusNet VIC - Outer northern and eastern suburbs and eastern Victoria

Western Power WA

Jemena VIC - Northern and north-western suburbs

ActewAGL ACT

The following instructions apply to the Single phase 410 AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) Meter

To record the energy generated from the grid of your solar system, the existing smart meter installed has been re-programmed to record exported energy.

This re-program will allow the meter to record net (usage), which records the premises’ total electricity consumption that has been offset by electricity generated by your solar system. This includes the excess energy that is exported back into the SP AusNet electricity distribution network.  

AMI meters feature a scroll button. Pressing the scroll button very lightly prompts the device to commence scrolling through a list – as follows:

 

Scroll Time 5 SecondsDisplay List
Display Code 
88Display Test
1Time
2Date
3kWh Imported Total Energy
4kWh Imported Peak Energy
6kWh Imported Off Peak Energy
13kWh Total Exported Energy
14kWh Exported Peak Energy
16kWh Exported Off Peak Energy

The kilowatt hours (kWh) number displayed on the meter is cumulative. To determine actual consumption for a particular period, you must take a reading at the start and end of the required period and then subtract the initial kWh reading from the final kWh.

The smart meter has a number of buttons and displays allowing customers to interact with it:

  • Display – automatically displays the total accumulated energy consumption for your property
  • Boost Button – enables a customer to activate electricity for hot water system users. This can allow you to re-heat a cold off-peak hot water tank if this functionality is available at your property.
  • Scroll Button – allows you to scroll through different displays (including date, test pattern, Australia Eastern Standard Time, and total accumulated energy per tariff for your property)
  • Optical Port – is a function for SP AusNet staff and contractors to interact with the smart meter
  • Antenna component – the smart meter has an antenna generally mounted close to the meter itself. This antenna transmits smart meter readings to and from SP AusNet 4 times a day.
  • Additional functionality – Smart meters will enable consumers to access functionality through web portals and in-home displays. Click here to read more about our smart meter customer portal, myHomeEnergy.
The energy generated by your solar system will be consumed first by your installation. Any surplus generation will flow back through the meter where it will be measured as it is exported to the grid. The meter will only record exported kWh if the electricity generation exceeds consumption during a particular time interval.