Perth smart water meter program
When it comes to managing your water, every drop counts. So we're harnessing the power of data through smart meter technology to provide customers with greater insights which will help them understand and manage their water use.
Program goal:
The outcomes of the program will help us understand the benefits of smart meter technology in developing new and innovative services for our customers, and improve how we operate our business.
Status:
In progress
Delivery Date:
2023 - 2026
What is happening?
Around 16,000 properties in Perth will have their meter upgraded to a smart meter.
So far, we have upgraded close to 5,000 meters in West Perth, Darlington, Halls Head and Dawesville.
Installation of the remaining meters should be complete by late 2025.
Once all the meters have been installed, we will monitor the technology to assess how it performs in different conditions across Perth.
We'll also seek feedback from customers about new online services such as leak alerts and water insights. The feedback will help us understand how we can use smart meter data to improve services for all customers.
Why smart meters?
We've been using smart meter technology in Yanchep and regional WA for more than 10 years, helping customers find hidden leaks and assisting us with water planning areas with unique water challenges.
With new technology now available, smart meters have the potential to improve the safety, reliability, and efficiency of meter readings while providing our customers with a better online service.
Smart meters also have a range of benefits like identifying potential leaks, which can help you save water and money.
Learn more about smart meters.
Which areas will receive an upgrade?
All meters in the following water zones will be upgraded with a smart meter.
Customers will be notified four weeks prior to their planned mater installation.
District metered area (Water supply zone) | Suburbs included in the area |
---|---|
Claremont Booster | Claremont Cottesloe Peppermint Grove |
Darlington Lower High Level | Darlington Greenmount Swan View |
Dawesville South DMA | Dawesville Mandurah |
Doubleview Upper High Level | Doubleview Woodlands |
East Fremantle High Level | Bicton East Fremantle |
Fremantle DMA | Beaconsfield East Fremantle Fremantle White Gum Valley |
Greenfields South DMA | Greenfields |
Halls Head North High Level | Halls Head |
Halls Head South High Level | Halls Head |
Joondalup High Level | Joondalup |
Lakelands Booster DMA | Lakelands |
Maddington North DMA | Kenwick Maddington Orange Grove |
North Fremantle DMA | Cottesloe Fremantle North Fremantle |
West Perth PRV | Perth Subiaco West Perth |
If you have more questions, we've got you covered. Please refer to the frequently asked questions below for more information.
Specific water zones have been selected to enable us to assess the performance of the technology in different conditions. This includes properties in the hills and on the coast, businesses and households, and properties with meters located in boxes or behind fences. To understand how we can use smart meter data to optimise our networks requires every meter in the water zone to be upgraded to a smart meter.
The zones we’ve selected are also representative of the broader Perth population so we can assess the value of smart meter technology for our customers across Perth.
We will need to turn the water off at your property for 10-15 minutes during the installation.
If your water is turned off, you may notice a loud bang and your water bubbling as it comes out of the tap when it's turned back on. This is due to the air entering your water pipe during the installation. It should only take a moment for the air to clear and your water supply to return to normal. You can learn more about what to expect when your water is back on.
Once we've installed all the new meters, we'll monitor the technology for a period of time to ensure it’s connected and transferring data to us. We'll continue to manually read your smart meter to track your water use during this time, and you'll receive your water use bills as per the normal bill cycle.
You can still read your new meter and track your water use during this time. Access to your two monthly water use will be available in your online account. We’ll let you know once the new features are available in your online account and when you can register to receive alerts.
Your smart meter will measure your water use each hour and send this data to us wirelessly each day. We'll continue to manually read your meter during a transition period.
During the installation phase you won’t have access to your data online, however, we are working on new functionality that allows you to view your hourly water use in your online account. If you haven't already, we recommend you register for an online account.
You'll also be able to register for alerts if we detect unusual water use, such as a possible leak.
Once everything is working as it should, we'll reach out to you with an opportunity to provide feedback on your experience.
If your old meter wasn't working correctly, then your first bill after your smart meter upgrade may be larger than usual. We may have also been estimating your water use if we couldn't access your meter. We estimate your water use by taking your average daily water use from the same time last year and multiplying it by the number of days in the current billing period.
So, if your standard meter was faulty or we were estimating your water use, your water use may be corrected when your smart meter is installed. If we underestimated your water use, we'll charge the difference in your next bill. If we overestimated your use, we'll provide a credit to your account.
If you suspect you have a leak, visit our step-by-step-guide to help you find out.
Customers do not need to opt in to the upgrade. All meters in the nominated water zones will be upgraded.
In order for us to assess the full benefits of the technology, it’s important that all properties within the water zone receive a smart meter. Registering for an online account, or to receive leak and water use alerts, is completely optional.
There are many benefits to having a smart meter, which you can learn more about on our 'Smart meters' page.
If you have any further questions, please contact us.
During the installation phase, we’ll continue to read your smart meter every two months. If we suspect high water use or a possible leak, we will notify you the same way we currently do - via email or a letter to the property owner.
We’ll let you know when you can register to receive leak alerts.
While we strive to do what we can to notify you of suspected leaks, it’s the responsibility of the property owner to find and repair any leaks on their property and pay for any excess water use caused by leaks. We recommend that you check for leaks between bills regularly. Here is an easy step-by-step-guide.
The smart water meters use secure, existing telecommunication infrastructure to send your water usage data to our servers and systems.
The data doesn’t contain any identifying information about you and we use global standards to ensure the data is secure from end to end.
No personal information is stored on the device itself. We know privacy is important to you; for more information, please read about how we manage your information following the Privacy Act 1988.
Stay updated with the latest information on our smart water meter program in Perth.
Project updates
January 2025
Phase two of meter installations as part of the Perth Smart Water Meter Program will kick off in March 2025, and includes properties in the Claremont Booster, Doubleview Upper, East Fremantle High Level, Fremantle, Greenfields South, Joondalup High Level, Lakelands Booster, Maddington North and North Fremantle water zones.
All meters are expected to be installed by late August 2025.
To find out if your property is included in this next phase, refer to the maps below.
All properties within the shaded water supply zones will receive a meter upgrade, and will be notified four weeks prior to their planned meter installation.
Claremont booster water supply zone
Doubleview upper water supply zone
East Fremantle high level water supply zone
Fremantle water supply zone
Greenfields South water supply zone
Joondalup high level water supply zone
Lakelands booster water supply zone
Maddington North water supply zone
North Fremantle water supply zone
March 2024
The next phase of smart meter installations as part of the Perth Smart Water Meter Program will kick off in April, and includes properties in the Halls Heads, Darlington and Dawesville water zones.
All meters are expected to be installed by the end of May 2024.
To find out if your property is included in this next phase, refer to the maps below.
All customers within the shaded water supply zones will receive a smart meter, and will be notified four weeks prior to their planned meter installation.