Kalgoorlie-Boulder meter replacement
Project goal:
To upgrade all smart meters in a staged approach across Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Status:
In progress
Delivery Date:
October 2023 to June 2024
What's happening
The existing smart meters in Kalgoorlie-Boulder have come to the end of their life and are now due for replacement.
We thank the community for its support in helping us replace the meters with improved technology. For the latest information on this project, please refer to the ‘updates’ tab.
Where is this happening?
All homes and businesses with an existing smart meter in Kalgoorlie-Boulder can expect to have their meter upgraded.
Why is this taking place?
The old smart meters were nearing the end of operational life and needed to be replaced to ensure we can deliver services to you efficiently.
When is this happening?
There are over 14,000 smart water meters in Kalgoorlie-boulder to be replaced. We expect the upgrades to take approximately 10 months to complete. Upgrades commenced in October 2023 and we expect them to be completed in June 2024.
How will this impact the community?
You can help us by ensuring your meter is clear and accessible before upgrades begin. Refer to the FAQs for more information on what to expect during the rollout of upgrades.
We aim to minimise disruption wherever possible. You can expect to hear from us before your meter is upgraded so you can prepare. Update your details or register for an online account to ensure you don’t miss our notifications.
What if you're unable to access my meter?
Sometimes, we're unable to complete an upgrade if we can't safely access your meter. This is often due to an unrestrained dog on the property, or the meter being located behind a locked gate.
If you received a card or letter from us letting you know we were unable to upgrade your meter, you can let us know a suitable time for us to attend your property again and complete the upgrade using our online form.
Who can I contact?
If you need help with your bill, please get in touch on 13 13 85 (8am – 5pm weekdays).
If you have further questions about this work, email us at kalgoorlie.meters@watercorporation.com.au or use our enquiries form to get in touch.
We'll be in touch via mail and/or email & SMS before we come to upgrade your smart meter.
If your meter is clear and accessible, we'll upgrade your smart water meter when we are in your area. Learn more about what a clear and accessible meter looks like.
We may need to turn your property's water supply off for 10-15 minutes during the upgrade. We'll leave a notification in your letterbox when the upgrade is complete.
If we're unable to access your meter for any reason, we'll leave a card in your letter box explaining why. We'll contact you to schedule a suitable date and time.
Please note that we can't enter the property if your dog is not clearly secured away from the meter area. This means that they need to be in a separate fenced area or inside your home.
If your meter is behind a locked gate, please ensure the gate is left unlocked when we come to do your replacement.
Alternatively, you can also book a time for us to visit so that you can give us access to your meter.
There are a number of reasons why you may notice an increase in water use charges following the installation of your new smart water meter.
1. Your water use may have been estimated.
Due to the old smart meters in Kalgoorlie-Boulder nearing the end of operational life, some experienced issues sending and recording water use data. Many meters are also positioned behind locked gates or in yards with dogs. When a meter is no longer connected to the network or not accessible by our meter readers, we are not able to obtain a reading.
When this happens, we ask the household to provide a self-read, or an estimation is used. This estimation is based on water use from the same period in the previous year. An estimated water read may be lower than your actual water use.
2. You may have moved into a higher pricing tier.
For some people, increased water use charges may be explained by having moved to a higher pricing tier.
The tiered pricing system is in place across WA and is designed to encourage the careful use of water. Water use charges in Kalgoorlie-Boulder are calculated using the Regional Class Five charges which are based on the cost of supplying water to the area. You can learn more about water use charges at watercorporation.com.au/waterusecharges.
3. You may have a leak.
Sometimes, higher than expected water use can be due to a leak that has gone unnoticed.
You can check for leaks by simply looking at the screen on your new smart water meter. Turn off all water-using appliances in your home (including evaporative air conditioners), wait a few minutes and check to see if the small number showing litres per hour has returned to 0l p/h. If the number is greater than 0l p/h, this indicates you may have a leak.
Please get in touch with us on 13 13 85 if you want to talk to someone about your bill.
If you’re the owner of the property you live in and already signed up for an online account, you can log in anytime to see your water use data displayed in hourly increments. If you haven’t got an online account yet, register online.
If you’re a tenant, you’ll need to get in touch with your property manager to set this up.
There are a number of different smart water meter technologies available. Most residents in Kalgoorlie-Boulder will receive the Sensus iPERL as it is the most proven and robust technology for local conditions. Visit our how to read your meter page for further information.
Stay updated with the latest information on our meter replacement program.
March 2024
Got questions about your new smart meter? We'll be available to chat in person in Kalgoorlie from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 March 2024, so you can ask any questions you may have about meter replacements or your bill.
Where to find us
- Location: Kalgoorlie-Boulder Commerce Hub Boardroom on 226 Hannan Street.
- Opening hours: The hub will be open Monday to Tuesday from 11am – 6:30pm and Wednesday from 7:30am – 1:30pm.
February 2024
In October 2023, we began the staged replacement of smart water meters across Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
We want to thank you for your support in helping us replace the meters with improved technology, and will provide you with regular updates as the program progresses.
Here are some things to be aware of when using your new smart meter.
Your next water bill may be higher
There are a number of reasons why you may notice an increase in water use charges following the installation of your new smart water meter.
Your water use may have been estimated
Due to the old smart meters in Kalgoorlie-Boulder nearing the end of operational life, some experienced issues sending and recording water use data. Many meters are also positioned behind locked gates or in yards with dogs. When a meter is no longer connected to the network or not accessible by our meter readers, we are not able to obtain a reading.
When this happens, we ask the household to provide a self-read, or an estimation is used. This estimation is based on water use from the same period in the previous year. An estimated water read may be lower than your actual water use.
You may have moved into a higher pricing tier
For some people, increased water use charges may be explained by having moved to a higher pricing tier.
The tiered pricing system is in place across WA and is designed to encourage the careful use of water. Water use charges in Kalgoorlie-Boulder are calculated using the Regional Class Five charges which are based on the cost of supplying water to the area.
To learn more, read our help article on understanding your water use charges.
You may have a leak
Sometimes, higher than expected water use can be due to a leak that has gone unnoticed. You can check for leaks by simply looking at the screen on your new smart water meter.
Turn off all water-using appliances in your home (including evaporative air conditioners), wait a few minutes and check to see if the small number showing litres per hour has returned to 0l p/h. If the number is greater than 0l p/h, this indicates you may have a leak.
Reading your new smart water meter
You may notice the information displayed on your new smart meter is different. For detailed instructions on how to read your new meter, visit our help article for more information.
Meter replacement team