- New advanced meter technology to be rolled out across regional WA
Horizon Power customers living in regional and remote Western Australia will have new meters installed free of charge under a project being funded by the State Government.
The $34 million project will ensure access to the latest metering technology for more than 47,000 customers living in regional and remote WA. The roll-out of meters is due to begin mid next year and will take up to two years to complete.
Energy Minister Mike Nahan said the project was expected to save taxpayers more than $7 million a year and was in line with Horizon Power's commitment to reduce operating costs while improving and maintaining existing services.
The network covers a vast 2.3 million square kilometres and means employees currently travel hundreds of kilometres to read meters.
The new meters can be read automatically, meaning customers do not have to be waiting at home to unlock gates or secure their dogs for the meter to be read.
Also when a customer wants to be reconnected or disconnected when moving, Horizon Power staff will now be able to remotely read a meter on the day a customer is moving. In the past, customers may have waited days for the reconnection of power.
Estimated reads and late bills will become redundant as the meters will now be read automatically, ensuring bills are calculated and delivered on time.
Dr Nahan said the investment would result in more accurate billing for regional customers as well as a saving to taxpayers subsidising the provision of electricity to the regions.
"The focus of Horizon Power and the State Government is to look for better ways of delivering electricity in a more efficient way," he said.
"This new technology has benefits for customers as well as reducing the cost of metering to the business."
Horizon Power will begin contacting customers ahead of the installation of new meters in each of the towns and communities that it services.
Fact File
More than 47,000 new meters will be installed from mid-2015 to the end of 2017 across a 2.3 million square kilometre service area
Meters can operate in credit or prepayment meter mode allowing customers in areas approved for prepayment meters to move from one form of payment to the other
Minister's office - 6552 5700
