The AEMC is initiating a minor rule change proposal to make minor corrections and non-material changes to the National Electricity Rules, the National Gas Rules and the National Energy Retail Rules (NERR) to improve their quality. As with previous AEMC initiated rules, these minor corrections and non-material changes make the rules clearer for stakeholders. 

The proposal includes suggested changes to the NERR to ensure consistency with the final determination of the Accelerating smart meter deployment rule change, published on 28 November 2024. That rule change amended NERR rule 59A to remove the ability for customers to opt out of a smart meter, from 1 June 2025. The Commission considers that the model terms and conditions for standard retail contracts (set out in NERR schedule 1) should also be amended so that they are consistent with this provision in the NERR, and retailers should be required to update their standard retail contracts accordingly. This will enable retailers’ standard retail contracts to be consistent with the NERR. 

Therefore, we propose to make a minor change to clause 11(d) of the model terms to reflect that retailers cannot offer small customers the option to opt out of a smart meter. The proposed rule also requires retailers to notify customers of this change as soon as possible and to amend their standard retail contracts by 1 September 2025 at the latest.

Submissions to the rule change proposal close on 1 May 2025. 

The Commission intends to progress this rule change through the expedited process as it considers these to be non-controversial rules. Under an expedited rule making process, a final rule determination must be made within eight weeks of the initiation of the process under the uniform energy rules. The AEMC will assess the draft rules under the expedited rule making process if it does not receive a written request and substantive reasons not to do so from any person by 17 April 2025.