Smart meter safety and installation requirements

Safety regulations

Building Commission NSW is responsible for safety regulation of electrical meters and related installation work under the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017 and Regulation 2018.

Meter provider requirements

You must supply Building Commission NSW with a copy of your ‘safety management system’ which shows how you will follow the Code for the safe installation of electricity meters in NSW. 

Building Commission NSW might ask you to make changes to the safety management system before it is accepted. 

Send us your safety management system by email to: electricalcompliance@customerservice.nsw.gov.au

Meter installer requirements

Meters must be installed following the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules and the Metering Annexure to the Service and Installation Rules of New South Wales.

The following meter providers have safety management systems accepted by Building Commission NSW and can operate in NSW:

• Acumen Metering
• IntelliHub
• Metropolis Metering Services
• Plus ES
• Powermetric Metering
• Select Solutions Group
• Spotless Advanced Metering
• Bluecurrent Metering Services
• Yurika Metering

Building Commission NSW must be supplied with copies of the Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW). The person who carries out the electrical test must submit a CCEW as soon as practical, but no later than seven days after the electrical test has been completed.

Go to the electrical compliance requirements page for details on how to submit a CCEW.

Smart meter tool

You must let Building Commission NSW know about each smart meter installation after it’s installed. Submit this information through the Smart meter tool.

From 1 December 2025, electrical licence holders will need to register on the BCNSW eCert portal to submit a CCEW for metering. The smart meter tool will no longer be required. 

Service and installation rules

The Service and Installation Rules of NSW cover the requirements for the connection of electrical installations to the distribution network. The rules are used by electricians and Accredited Service Providers.

Remote de-energisation or re-energisation of meters

Under the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2018 retailers may arrange for, and metering providers can carry out, connection and disconnection of the premises of small customers by the remote use of an electricity meter provided they:

• have a Safety Management Plan in force, and
• carry out those services in accordance with the accepted plan.

Building Commission NSW has developed Guidelines for Development of Safety Management Plans for Remote De-energisation and Re-energisation of Premises of Small Customers by Metering Providers and Retailers.

Prior to requesting or undertaking remote de-energisation and/or re-energisation of meters, the retailer and metering provider must submit and have accepted their safety management plan which will show how you will follow the Regulation and Guidelines.

To request a copy of the guidelines, please email: electricalcompliance@customerservice.nsw.gov.au

The following retailers have safety management plans accepted by Building Commission NSW and can arrange for remote de-energisation and/or re-energisation of meters in NSW:

• AGL Sales Pty Limited
• Red Energy Pty Ltd
• Alinta Energy
• Powershop Australia Pty Ltd
• Next Business Energy Pty Ltd
• GloBird Energy Pty Ltd
• Momentum Energy Pty Ltd
• Amber Electric Pty Ltd
• Sumo Power Pty Ltd
• Origin
• Origin Energy

The following metering providers have safety management plans received by Building Commission NSW and can carry out remote de-energisation and/or re-energisation of meters in NSW:

• Intellihub Australia Pty Limited
• Plus ES
• Vector Metering Australia Ltd

Electrical installation safety inspection prior to re-energisation

If an electrical installation has been de-energised for 6 months or more, an electrical installation safety inspection is required to be undertaken by a qualified electrician to ensure, as far as practically possible, that the electrical installation is safe to re-energise.

After the safety inspection has been conducted, a completed Remote Re-energisation Safety Statement form is provided to the customer.

The Remote Re-energisation Safety Statement includes details of the minimum checks and tests required prior to issuing the certificate.

The customer will need to provide a copy of the certificate to their electricity retailer when arranging for re-energisation to be undertaken.

Licensing

You must use licensed electricians to do any meter installation work in NSW.

Inspections

Building Commission NSW will complete field-based inspections of installation work informed by CCEWs, intelligence or customer feedback (for example, complaints).