Meter reading 

You will need your power bill to find the approximate date for your next meter read. The date is printed on the top right-hand corner of the front page. We can be out reading meters between 7.30am to sunset (Mon-Fri).

Your meter reader can visit two business days before or one day after this date. There might be times where these dates may vary due to bad weather, injury and other unforeseen events.

Sign up for updates to receive reminders about when we will read your meter

If we are unable to access the meter, we’ll leave an orange card title ‘your electricity meter’ in your letter box. The card will explain why we were unable to access the meter and take your reading.

We can not accept a meter reading provided by a customer. In this instance you will need to contact your electricity retailer to discuss how you can provide a self-read.

To learn more about self-reads please refer to your electricity retailer.

You can choose to install a utility lock on the meter box, or to any relevant access point such as a gate. Contact a locksmith who is part of the Master Locksmiths Association to purchase this lock.

We hold a master key for a utility lock which will allow us access to the meter. It’s important you let your retailer know of any new locks you install.

You can also provide a copy of the key to a private lock or gate via post to:

SA Power Networks
Attention:
Meter Data Group
GPO Box 77
Adelaide SA 5001

Along with your key you must also provide the following information:

• your name
• your phone number
• your NMI number (found on your power bill)
• details about what the key is for (e.g. unlocking a side gate).

All private keys we receive are strictly monitored and in no way identify the property for which they provide access. Keys will be used for meter reading and special read access only and cannot be used for connection or disconnections of power supply.

As of 1/11/23 customer provided keys will be returned to the customer (if possible) who provided the key on move out or when a smart meter is installed. If the key cannot be returned, it will held by SA Power Networks for 12 months and if it remains unclaimed, will be destroyed.

You can help us by:

• keeping dogs restrained or away from your meter
• advising our General Enquires team of the best way to access your meter
• advising our General Enquires team that a dog will not be onsite during the next schedule read date
• using an approved utility lock to secure your meter box or gates
• using a combination lock and advising us of the combination via our General Enquires team - 13 12 61
• keeping your meter clear of vegetation, insects, vehicles and other equipment
• moving your meter box if it becomes blocked by new fences or buildings.

For safety reasons, our field staff are NOT permitted to enter your property unless the dog is securely restrained or isolated.

We consider a dog is suitably restrained when it is:

• placed securely inside the house behind a closed door or other suitable building (e.g. shed) and our field staff are convinced the dog cannot escape the building
• placed securely in a yard or area completely separated from where our work is needed (i.e. locked behind a fence), and our field staff are convinced the dog cannot escape the area
• isolated by either a substantial rope or chain secured to an appropriate anchor point on the ground or to a fixed fitting to ensure our safe access to the work area. If you chain your dog please remember you are responsible for ensuring they have appropriate water, shade and food

Please note: If you offer to hold a dog by hand i.e. via a collar, holding part of the dog’s body, or having the dog in your arms, this is not adequate. We will consider the premises unsafe to enter if you offer to do this.

We will use best endeavours to determine if the dog is in the yard they are attempting to enter using visual clues such as: water/food bowls, toys, bones, kennels, etc. However, if they cannot determine that the premises are safe to enter, they will not attempt entry.

Meter readers are still visiting properties. You can expect that they will have incorporated current social distancing and hygiene guidelines into the way they will work at your property. They will also ask you questions around whether you are self-isolating or in quarantine to assist them to carry out their role safely.

If SA Power Networks owns the meter at your property (it will have ETSA printed on it), we can send you a reminder a few days before our meter readers are in your area (if you are signed up to receive updates). If your retailer owns the meter, they get the data remotely to bill you and our meter readers will not attend your property.

Meter readers will use customer provided keys and master keys to access meters inside of premises.

Meter readers are still visiting properties to perform check reads, special reads, retailer requested disconnection and retailer requested reconnection. You can expect that they will have incorporated current social distancing and hygiene guidelines into the way they will work at your property. They will also ask you questions around whether you are self-isolating or in quarantine to assist them to carry out their role safely.

If SA Power Networks owns the meter at your property (it will have ETSA printed on it), we can send you a reminder a few days before our meter readers are in your area (if you are signed up to receive updates). If your retailer owns the meter, they get the data remotely to bill you and our meter readers will not attend your property.

Meter readers will use customer provided keys and master keys to access meters inside of premises for special read and check read service orders. Meter Readers will not use customer provided keys to access meters located inside a premises for retailer requested disconnection and retailer requested reconnection service orders. This is a “business as usual” policy for the safe management of customer provided keys.

Meter investigations/inspections will still take place during this period, but because of coronavirus we are changing the way we read meters to protect you and our people.

Instead of using our keys as in the past, we will not enter your premises to read a meter unless you are personally able to confirm it is safe to do so.

Where your meter is located outside we will continue to read your meter, but ensuring appropriate physical distancing while on your property.

We ask for customer assistance and understanding to help us manage this safely while we are on site.