If you live in a strata unit, townhouse or villa in Sydney, there’s a good chance you’ve received a letter or email about smart meter upgrades.
For some owners, the process is smooth: a metering technician arrives, swaps the old meter out, and it’s done. For others, it’s a very different story:
“The upgrade couldn’t be completed. You’ll need a Level 2 electrician.”
Cue confusion, frustration… and often a bit of panic.
At Ingress Electrical Services, we speak to a lot of Sydney property owners and strata managers in this exact situation:
- How smart meter upgrades generally work in NSW
- Why they often get stopped in strata and townhouse setups
- What it actually means when you’re told you need a Level 2 electrician
- The steps to get from “upgrade failed” to “issue resolved”
- How a Level 2 electrician in Sydney can help you move things forward safely
Our goal: help you understand what’s going on, reduce the stress, and give you a clear path to getting your smart meter upgrade and any required Level 2 work sorted.
How Smart Meter Upgrades Work in NSW – The Basics
Before we zoom in on strata and townhouses, it helps to understand who does what in the world of electricity in NSW.
Retailer, Distributor, Electrician – Who Is Who?
At a high level:
- Your energy retailer is the company you get bills from (the brand you chose – for example, an electricity retailer you signed up with).
- The distributor owns and maintains the poles, wires and network in your area (for most of Sydney, this is Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy).
- A licensed electrician (like us) works on your electrical installation – wiring, switchboard, safety switches, etc.
- A Level 2 Accredited Service Provider (ASP) is a specially authorised electrician who can work on certain parts of the supply, such as service mains, metering connections and disconnections at the network side.
When it comes to meters and smart meter upgrades, your retailer is usually driving the process, often using their own metering service providers.
What Is a Smart Meter, in Simple Terms?
A smart meter is a digital meter that can typically:
- Record your electricity usage more frequently and in more detail
- Communicate usage data remotely
- Allow for certain services without a manual meter read
From your point of view as a homeowner or small business, there are a few practical differences, but the big picture is that it’s a modern meter replacing an older one.
The Typical Smart Meter Upgrade Journey
A very simplified version of the process looks like this:
- Notification – Your retailer contacts you to advise a smart meter upgrade is planned or available.
- Appointment – A metering technician is scheduled to attend your property.
- Site Visit & Assessment – They look at your existing meter and the surrounding setup.
- Upgrade… or not –
- If everything is compliant and accessible, they can often complete the upgrade.
- If there are safety or compliance concerns, they may stop and flag the need for additional work first.
- Outcome – You either get a new meter installed, or you receive a note/email saying something like:
“We were unable to complete the meter exchange. Please arrange a Level 2 electrician to complete required works.”
In strata and townhouse properties, steps 3 and 4 are where things frequently come unstuck.
Why Smart Meter Upgrades in Strata & Townhouses Get Stopped
If you’ve been told the technician couldn’t proceed, it’s usually for a safety or compliance reason – not because they don’t want to do the job.
Here are the most common issues we see in Sydney strata and townhouse setups.
1. Shared Fuses Between Units
In many older strata buildings and townhouse complexes, multiple units share the same main supply fuse or protective device. That can create issues when:
- The metering provider wants to isolate just one unit for a meter change
- They need to safely work on the metering and associated equipment
Shared fuses can make isolation more complicated and raise questions about:
- Safety during work
- Suitability for modern metering requirements
- The need for individual meter protection devices (MPDs) or similar changes
Rather than taking risks, the technician will often stop and note that a Level 2 electrician is required to address the underlying supply arrangement.
2. Meter Box or Panel Not Meeting Current Requirements
Over time, expectations around electrical safety, clearances, cable entry, protection and enclosure design have evolved.
In some strata and townhouse sites, the metering panel or meter box is:
- Very old or in poor condition
- Crowded or laid out in a way that doesn’t suit modern metering equipment
- Missing appropriate separation or protection for different parts of the installation
If the technician believes the existing meter position or panel doesn’t provide a suitable environment for the new meter, they may halt the job and flag that upgrade works are needed first.
3. Limited Access or Difficult Meter Locations
In older blocks and complexes, meters may be:
- Behind locked doors with limited access windows
- Mounted very high or low compared to modern practice
- Located in tight cupboards, stairwells or awkward corners
If safe access and working space can’t be achieved, the technician may decide it’s not appropriate to proceed. In some situations, a Level 2 electrician may be needed to:
- Relocate or reorganise metering equipment
- Improve access or layout
- Address associated service issues
4. Signs of Damage or Safety Issues
Sometimes, a technician will notice signs of:
- Heat damage or deterioration on meter panels or fuses
- Exposed live parts in the metering area
- Wiring that appears unsafe or non-compliant
They can’t ignore those signs. Instead, they will usually:
- Stop work
- Record their findings
- Advise that rectification by an authorised electrician (often a Level 2 ASP) is required before proceeding with the upgrade.
What “You Need a Level 2 Electrician” Really Means
From a property owner’s point of view, being told you need a Level 2 electrician can feel vague and worrying.
Here’s what it usually means in practical terms.
The Technician Has Hit a Boundary They Can’t Legally Cross
Smart meter technicians have a defined scope. They can:
- Swap meters under certain conditions
- Work within their specific authorisations
- Refuse to proceed if safety or compliance isn’t right
What they can’t do is:
- Reconfigure shared fuses or common supply arrangements
- Carry out structural changes to the metering panel or service equipment outside their scope
- Perform broader electrical upgrades that are required to bring the installation in line with relevant expectations
Those types of works are often considered Level 2 work because they involve:
- Main service connections
- Metering supply arrangements
- Protection between the network and individual units
Examples of Level 2 Work Around Smart Meters
In strata and townhouse settings, Level 2 jobs related to smart meters often include:
- Installing dedicated meter protection devices (MPDs) for individual units
- Separating shared fuses so each unit has appropriate protection
- Upgrading or modifying metering panels and associated service equipment
- Relocating metering and service components to more suitable positions
- Making changes to service mains where required
Once these works are completed by a Level 2 electrician and the installation is in an acceptable state, the metering provider can usually return and complete the meter upgrade.
It’s About Safety and Suitability – Not Punishment
It’s important to remember that when a technician stops and says a Level 2 electrician is required, they’re not trying to make life difficult. They’re responding to conditions on site that:
- Raise safety concerns, or
- Don’t meet the expectations for modern metering
The aim is to make sure your supply is safe and appropriately configured before upgrading the meter – not after something goes wrong.
Specific Challenges in Strata & Townhouse Setups
Strata and townhouse properties in Sydney bring their own set of quirks. Let’s look at the most common ones and how they relate to Level 2 work.
Shared Meter Rooms and Older Wiring Layouts
Many older buildings have one or more meter rooms where:
- All meters for the building are grouped
- Main fuses or supply arrangements are set up in ways that were acceptable at the time of installation
Over the years, with changes to:
- The number of units
- Upgrades by various electricians
- Different retailers and metering providers coming and going
…these meter rooms can become complex, crowded and inconsistent.
That complexity can make upgrades harder and increase the likelihood that:
- Shared or unusual supply arrangements are in place
- Modern safety expectations aren’t fully met
- A Level 2 electrician needs to step in to straighten things out
Multiple Owners, One Shared Supply Arrangement
In strata and townhouse communities, you’ve got:
- Individual lot owners
- An owners corporation or body corporate (in NSW, usually an owners corporation under strata law)
- A strata manager in many cases
- Different retailers for different units
When a shared supply arrangement needs modification (for example, separating fuses or adding individual MPDs), the solution:
- May affect more than one unit
- May need owners corporation consent
- Can require clear communication so everyone understands what’s going on
A Level 2 electrician experienced with strata work can help explain:
- What needs to change
- Which parts affect common property
- How to plan the work with minimal disruption
Coordinating Strata Approvals and Access
Even when everyone understands what needs to happen, practical matters can still cause delays:
- Booking times that work for multiple residents
- Getting keys for meter rooms or cupboards
- Aligning with building rules (noise, access, parking, etc.)
This is why it helps to work with a Level 2 electrician who:
- Understands strata communication
- Is used to working with strata managers and owners corporations
- Can give clear explanations you can pass on to other stakeholders
Step-by-Step: What to Do if Your Smart Meter Upgrade Was Stopped
If your smart meter upgrade in a strata or townhouse property has been stopped, here’s a practical approach to get things moving again.
Step 1 – Gather All Information You’ve Been Given
Collect:
- Emails and letters from your retailer
- Any notes left by the metering technician
- Photos you’ve taken of the meter, meter room or surrounding area
- Any defect or safety reports if they’ve been provided
The more you can share with your electrician, the easier it is for them to understand the problem.
Step 2 – Contact a Level 2 Electrician in Sydney
Reach out to a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider and let them know:
- You’re in a strata or townhouse
- A smart meter upgrade was attempted but not completed
- You’ve been told that Level 2 work is required
Share the information you gathered in Step 1. In many cases, a quick review of that information will give the electrician a good idea of what they’re walking into.
Step 3 – Arrange a Site Inspection
Because strata setups vary so much, a site inspection is often the most reliable way to:
- Confirm the exact issue(s) preventing the upgrade
- Identify whether there are shared fuses, unusual arrangements or panel limitations
- Work out who is affected (just your unit, or others as well)
- Plan a safe, compliant rectification approach
During this visit, a good Level 2 electrician will:
- Explain their findings in straightforward language
- Clarify what is common property versus lot property where relevant
- Outline the practical steps needed to make the installation suitable for the smart meter upgrade
Step 4 – Communicate With the Strata Manager or Owners Corporation
If the required works involve:
- Common property (for example, shared meter rooms, common cabling)
- Shared supply arrangements that affect multiple units
…then the owners corporation will usually need to be involved.
At this point it helps to:
- Provide the strata manager with a clear summary of the electrician’s findings
- Share any diagrams or descriptions the electrician can provide
- Clarify any access needs and approximate timing (without discussing any costs)
Clear communication at this stage can greatly reduce misunderstandings and delays.
Step 5 – Schedule the Level 2 Works
Once the necessary approvals and arrangements are in place, the Level 2 electrician can:
- Schedule the works
- Coordinate any required interaction with the distributor or retailer
- Confirm how long power may need to be off for individual units or the building during the works
The actual works will depend on your specific situation, but might include:
- Installing dedicated MPDs or separate fuses for each unit
- Upgrading part of the meter panel or service equipment
- Making adjustments to the service mains or supply arrangements
Step 6 – Rebook the Smart Meter Upgrade
After the Level 2 works are complete, you or the owners corporation can:
- Contact the retailer or relevant party to rebook the smart meter upgrade
- Provide any necessary confirmation that the issue has been addressed
Because the underlying problem has been fixed, the metering provider can usually proceed with the upgrade safely and efficiently.
Safety and Compliance Considerations for Strata Communities
When it comes to electricity, strata communities have some unique responsibilities and risks.
Why Shared Electrical Arrangements Need Extra Care
In a freestanding home, issues with the supply typically affect one household. In a strata complex or townhouse development:
- Shared arrangements can affect multiple residents
- Meter rooms are often accessed by owners, trades and sometimes building staff
- Older configurations may not reflect modern expectations
This means safety issues can have a broader impact, and that owners corporations should take them seriously.
The Role of Licensed and Level 2 Electricians
For strata communities, having a relationship with:
- A trusted residential/commercial electrician for internal and common-area work
- A trusted Level 2 electrician for supply, metering and service issues
…can make a big difference.
It allows the owners corporation to:
- Respond quickly to safety concerns
- Manage upgrades in a planned, orderly way
- Gain clear explanations of technical issues so they can make informed decisions
Why DIY or Unauthorised Work Is Not an Option
Because of the shared nature of strata environments, DIY or unauthorised electrical work can:
- Put multiple households at risk
- Lead to confusion about what has been done and by whom
- Make it harder to maintain records and compliance over time
Electrical work in common areas and meter rooms should always be carried out by appropriately licensed electricians – and where service connections or metering arrangements are involved, by Level 2 ASPs where required.
How Ingress Electrical Services Supports Strata & Townhouse Owners in Sydney
At Ingress Electrical Services, we regularly assist:
- Individual strata lot owners
- Townhouse residents
- Owners corporations and strata managers
…with Level 2 issues that arise around smart meter upgrades and supply arrangements.
Our typical support includes:
- Investigating failed smart meter upgrades and explaining in plain language why they couldn’t go ahead
- Identifying shared fuses or supply arrangements that need to be reconfigured
- Installing dedicated meter protection devices where appropriate
- Helping strata managers and owners corporations understand the scope of works
- Coordinating with other stakeholders to minimise disruption during rectification
- Ensuring the installation is in a suitable state for the meter upgrade to be completed
We work across many parts of Sydney, including areas with a high concentration of:
- Strata apartments
- Townhouse complexes
- Mixed residential and commercial developments
Our focus is on:
- Safety first – every decision anchored in safe outcomes for residents and trades
- Clarity – explaining issues and solutions without jargon
- Reliability – turning up when we say we will, and keeping people informed
- Compliance – working in line with the relevant expectations and good practice
If you’re dealing with a stalled smart meter upgrade, you don’t have to navigate it alone. We can help you understand what’s needed and guide you through the next steps.
FAQs: Smart Meter Upgrades, Strata & Level 2 Electricians
Who is responsible for arranging the Level 2 electrician – me or the strata?
It depends on:
- Whether the issue is limited to your unit, or
- Whether it involves common property or shared supply arrangements.
If the problem is clearly within common property (for example, shared fuses in a meter room), the owners corporation will typically be involved in decisions about rectification.
If in doubt, it’s best to:
- Raise the issue with your strata manager or committee
- Share any information you’ve received
- Provide a summary from the Level 2 electrician after their inspection
They can then advise who is responsible and how they plan to proceed.
Will my power be off during the Level 2 works?
For many Level 2 tasks, there will be a period where power is turned off so the work can be done safely.
- The exact duration depends on the type and scope of work.
- In shared settings, outages may affect more than one unit.
A professional Level 2 electrician will:
- Let you know ahead of time if a planned outage is required
- Aim to keep interruptions as short as reasonably possible
- Encourage you to plan around the agreed timeframe (for example, not scheduling critical work that relies on power at that time)
Do all units in a building have to be upgraded if one unit has a problem?
Not always. It depends on:
- How the metering and supply arrangements are set up
- Whether the issue is truly isolated to one unit, or shared across multiple units
Sometimes, remedial work will mostly affect one unit. In other cases, a shared fuse or common arrangement means more than one unit is impacted.
This is where a thorough assessment by a Level 2 electrician – and clear communication to the owners corporation – is essential.
Can I choose my own Level 2 electrician?
In many cases, yes.
Your retailer or metering provider may give general guidance about the type of electrician needed (for example, a Level 2 ASP), but you can normally:
- Obtain your own quotes or contact your preferred Level 2 electrician
- Ask your strata manager if the building already has preferred electrical contractors
- Share your chosen electrician’s findings with the relevant parties
It’s important to ensure that whoever you engage is appropriately accredited for the work required.
What should I have ready before I call a Level 2 electrician?
To make the process smoother, try to have:
- Any emails or letters from your retailer or metering provider
- Notes or door hangers left by the technician
- Basic details about your property (strata / townhouse / freestanding)
- Photos of the meter, meter room, and any obvious issues where it’s safe to take them
Even a short, clear description like:
“Smart meter upgrade was stopped because of shared fuses in the meter room. I’ve been told I need a Level 2 electrician.”
…is incredibly helpful.
Need Help With a Smart Meter Upgrade Issue in a Strata or Townhouse?
If your smart meter upgrade in Sydney has been stopped and you’ve been told:
“You need a Level 2 electrician.”
You’re exactly the kind of person we help every week.
Whether you’re:
- An individual owner in a townhouse or apartment
- A strata committee member trying to make sense of a complex meter room
- A strata manager needing clear advice you can pass on to your clients
Ingress Electrical Services can:
- Inspect the situation
- Explain what’s going on in clear, straightforward terms
- Carry out the Level 2 works required to support your smart meter upgrade
- Coordinate with the right people to minimise disruption
You don’t have to untangle the technical side on your own.
Reach out to our team, share what’s been happening, and we’ll help you work out the safest, most practical way to get your smart meter upgrade back on track with the support of an Accredited Level 2 Electrician in Sydney.
