70,000 electricity meters replaced in Townsville
As part of the national push to modernise Australia’s energy infrastructure, Townsville has been at the forefront of the smart meter rollout under the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (AEMC) Legacy Meter Replacemet Plan (LMRP).
Yurika partnered with Ergon Energy Retail to upgrade outdated legacy electricity meters with advanced smart meters, ensuring greater energy efficiency, improved grid reliability, and better customer insights.
Our customer
Ergon Energy Retail, part of Energy Queensland, is a key electricity retailer servicing regional Queensland. The organisation is committed to providing reliable, and affordable energy solutions while supporting the transition to a smarter, more sustainable energy future.
Their objective
As part of the project, Ergon Energy Retail sought to:
- Replace aging legacy meters installed across Townsville households and businesses, with modern smart meters.
- Improve metering accuracy and reduce reliance on manual readings.
- Improve customer access to energy consumption data.
- Support the integration of distributed energy resources like solar and battery energy storage into the grid.
- Minimise disruptions and ensure a seamless transition for its customers.
The solution
Yurika developed a comprehensive and efficient execution strategy, leveraging its expert and extensive metering field crews to deliver a streamlined installation process. The approach included:
- Rapid mobilisation in deploying a skilled team of field technicians to systematically replace legacy meters across Townsville.
- Community engagement through its tailored communication used to educate customers about the benefits of smart meters and to ensure a smooth transition.
- Seamless installation in coordinating large-scale deployments to maximise efficiency, replacing entire streets and neighbourhoods in a methodical manner.
- Operational efficiency to use technology-driven processes to track installations and optimised scheduling.
The outcome
The Townsville LMRP has delivered significant benefits, including:
- Faster deployment than scheduled, operating well ahead of plan, due for completion by the end of 2025.
- As at April 2025, close to 70,000 premises now have smart metering installed across Townsville.
- Cost efficiencies through proficient communications related to meter replacement appointments and scheduling.
- Improved efficiency through reduced reliance on manual meter readings, lowering operational costs and improving accuracy.
- Improved grid resilience as smart meters better support the integration of distributed energy resources allowing for a more stable and sustainable electricity network.
