What to Do if Your Electricity Meter is Faulty

Have you ever opened your electricity bill and nearly fallen off your chair? While sudden spikes in energy use are often caused by seasonal changes or appliance usage, a faulty electricity meter could also be to blame. Then there’s the confusion of staring at the switchboard, wondering how to tell if something’s wrong without cutting power to the whole house. As electricity meters age, they can develop faults, and we’re seeing more call-outs from homeowners baffled by unusual usage they can’t explain.

Read on to learn more about spotting a faulty meter, what to do about it, and who to contact to get it sorted.

Signs Your Electricity Meter Might Be Faulty

So, how do you know if your electricity meter is the culprit? There are a few ways to tell—some obvious, others a bit sneaky.

As we already mentioned, the most common sign is when your power bills don’t make sense. If you’ve noticed a sudden spike (or drop) from your estimated bills without a clear reason (e.g. no new gigantic flat screen TV in use), it could mean your meter isn’t measuring correctly.

Another common sign we see is that the meter display is blank or glitchy. That's a fairly obvious red flag, as your meter should always be clearly showing your usage. Another significant one is frequent power cuts or flickering lights. While this can relate to wiring issues, a meter fault can also cause power outages in your home.

Finally, a less common cause is appliances acting up, such as lights dimming, fridges cycling strangely, or other devices misbehaving, which might mean the electricity flow is being disrupted, possibly due to an existing meter fault.

However, other causes of flickering lights include loose or damaged wiring, faulty switches, and localised circuit overload. You can learn more about the signs that your home may need electrical updates here.

How to Troubleshoot a Faulty Electricity Meter

So, you now suspect you have a faulty meter, but how can you be sure without accidentally shutting off your whole house? Here’s how to troubleshoot, step-by-step:

Step 1: Inspect the meter display

First things first, check if the screen is working properly. Look for blank displays, flickering numbers, or unusual error codes. If the display seems frozen or unreadable, that’s an early warning sign—especially if you have solar panels, since meters not designed for two-way energy flow can glitch when handling solar export data.

Step 2: Turn off all major appliances

Switch off your lights, air con, dishwasher, anything that draws power. Then check if your meter is still ticking over. If it’s recording usage even when nothing is running, something is not right. This is particularly important for solar households; if the sun’s out and you're generating electricity, a compatible smart meter should show exported energy, not consumption.

Step 3: Monitor appliance behaviour

Turn the main appliances back on. Notice flickering lights, inconsistent power, or appliances behaving oddly? These signs could be linked to a faulty meter, but possibly also wiring issues, or it could be a sign that you need a switchboard upgrade. If you’ve got a solar PV system installed, any irregularities during daylight hours may indicate the meter isn’t correctly tracking both usage and solar feed-in.

If you're still unsure what's going on, call a trusted residential electrician in Wollongong to come and inspect.

Who to Contact About a Faulty Meter

If you think your own meter reading is off, the first step is knowing who to call. It’s not always as straightforward as people think.

Start with your energy retailer

That’s the company that sends you the electricity bill. They’re your first port of call and are responsible for organising meter inspections or replacements if needed. In most cases, they’ll liaise with the electricity distributor (the company that owns the poles, wires, and meters in your area).

Distributors handle the physical meter

You typically don’t contact your distributor directly, but your retailer will escalate the issue if the meter needs testing, repair, or replacement.

Tenants vs. homeowners – who’s responsible?

Now, what if you’re renting? Report the issue to your property manager or landlord. It’s usually their responsibility to arrange servicing or repairs. Homeowners, on the other hand, will need to deal with the retailer directly and organise access to the meter if required.

When to call a licensed electrician

If you notice exposed wiring, smell burning, or a power outage, it’s time to call in a licensed emergency electrician. That should be the first thing you do in an electrical emergency. We can check for faults within your home’s electrical system, meter reader, and ensure everything is safe, providing you with peace of mind.

The Electricity Meter Testing and Replacement Process

Contact your energy retailer to arrange a formal meter test through your energy distributor. This usually comes between $80 and $200, depending on where you're based. However, if the meter is found to be faulty, that cost is typically waived. Some retailers may also ask you over the phone to run basic troubleshooting checks before they commit to a callout.

Once the test is scheduled, it can take a few weeks to receive the results. If the meter is confirmed to be faulty, your distributor will replace it, possibly with a new smart meter and usually at no additional charge. Additionally, your billing may be adjusted accordingly against your estimated meter readings if you’ve been overcharged. While the process can feel slow, knowing what to expect helps you prepare and practice patience.

Legal Rights and Responsibilities

It's important to note, that as a consumer in Australia, you are protected under the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), which ensures fair treatment when it comes to billing, metering, and electricity supply. If you believe your meter is faulty or your bill is inaccurate, you have the right to request a test and dispute the charges. If you receive a high bill you believe is incorrect, lodge a formal dispute with your retailer.

And if unresolved, escalate it to your state or territory’s energy ombudsman.

Typically, your energy retailer coordinates any meter testing with the electricity distributor. If you're a tenant, your landlord is responsible for ensuring the meter is operating properly. And if a test confirms the meter is faulty, you shouldn’t have to pay the testing fee. However, if the estimated reading is correct, the cost usually falls to the person who requested the test.

Preventative Tips and Final Advice

The best way to avoid the stress of a faulty electricity meter is to stay proactive. Regularly check your power bills for unusual spikes or drops, and maintain safe, clear access to your electricity meter in case technicians need to inspect or replace it. It’s also wise to keep records of any communication with your energy provider, including dates and details of calls or emails, especially if you've raised concerns.

A great preventative step if you install solar panels is to ensure you get your new and replacement meters upgraded to a compatible smart meter during the installation process.

If you're still unsure or suspect a fault, don’t wait. Contact Easther Electrical for expert advice or professional assistance. Our licensed electricians can help identify and resolve metering issues quickly and safely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my meter is faulty?

If your actual meter read is off, contact your energy retailer to report the issue—they can arrange for a test or inspection.

How to fix a faulty electricity meter in Australia?

Only your energy provider or a licensed electrician can repair a faulty meter or install a replacement.

What to do when your electricity meter is not working?

Check for visible errors, compare recent bills, and contact your electricity retailer to investigate or request a meter test.

Is it possible for a meter reading to be wrong?

Yes, human error, technical faults, or communication issues can result in incorrect readings.