A NEW nationwide system for installing and connecting electricity meters has left one Commercial Street business without power for more than three weeks, while new house connections across the region have been delayed up to 30 days.
Under the Federal Government’s metering contestability initiative, energy retailers are now responsible for installing and connecting electricity meters.
While SA Power Networks (SAPN) will energise up to the meter isolator and attach safety stickers and tags, customers must now wait on “metering coordinators” appointed by energy providers to make the final connection.
Mount Gambier electrician Chris Carrison said he had been “dealing in disappointment” since the legislation was introduced and feared delays could lead to the end of his business.
“Before metering contestability, a bloke from SAPN based in Mount Gambier would come around to fit the meter when you were building a new home or if you modified your meter position,” Mr Carrison explained.
“The problem is retailers do not have metering coordinators based in Mount Gambier, so now we have long delays.”
Mr Carrison said a Commercial Street business had waited more than three weeks for a metering coordinator to restore power after the meter position was altered.
“My big gripe is right now I have five businesses waiting to relocate or alter their meter position – they have to wait an unknown amount of time for that meter to be connected,” he said.
“Previously they were connected the same day, it was maybe a four-hour outage, whereas right now I have one business on day 21 without power.
“If you have built a new house it might be ready for you to move in, but you will need to wait another 30 days for this guy to turn up.”
Stuckey Electrical Contractors managing director Ryan Creek said electricians were “caught in the middle”.
“We are the mediator between the providers, the third party fitting the meter, SAPN doing the grid connections and the consumer,” Mr Creek said.
“The system is complex and it fails and as a result consumers are left without power for periods of time.
“A job that used to take half an hour now takes at least three hours to organise and every retailer has different processes.
“Right now we are covering the cost of all the extra paperwork and the hours of communication and eventually that cost will be passed on to consumers.”
Mr Carrison said he had raised his concerns with Member for Barker Tony Pasin and relevant authorities and was “disappointed” with the lack of action.
“I understand Mr Pasin is a busy man, but so am I,” he said.
“I also called the ombudsman every day for 35 days about a home owner in Port MacDonnell without power in his home – he waited over a month.
“The alternative is to relocate meters illegally and say nothing and risk a $390 fine.
“I know that is happening around town, a few sparkys have decided it is better to cop the fine rather than turn down thousands of dollars of work.
“We are dealing in disappointment now – I don’t sleep at night worrying about these jobs and I have given the guy who works for me notice.
“It is enough for me to say ‘this is the end of my business’.”
