Acronyms
What is an NMI number?
NMI stands for National Metering Identifier. It’s a unique 10 or 11 digit number used to identify every electricity network connection point in Australia. Every connection to the national electricity network is given its own NMI. You can find your NMI number on the second page of your bill in the ‘Total Electricity Charges’ box.
What is a MIRN number?
MIRN stands for Meter Installation Registration Number. It’s another unique 11 digit number used by natural gas suppliers to identify your gas connection. It’s essentially the same as an NMI, but for gas.
What are kilowatt hours? (kWh)
A kilowatt hour is a measure of how much energy you’re using. It’s a unit of measurement that equals the amount of energy you would use if you kept a 1,000 watt appliance running for an hour. For example, if you switched on a 100 watt light bulb, it would take 10 hours to use 1 kWh of energy. If you’re curious about just how much energy each of your appliances uses, an appliance running calculator can give you a good sense of how much they cost to run.
What is a megajoule? (MJ)
If you have natural gas at your property, then you’ve probably noticed there are a lot of numbers on your bill followed by ‘MJ’. Similar to a kWh, a MJ is a unit of work or energy equal to one million joules. A property’s gas usage is measured in megajoules and is recorded using a gas meter.
The energy industry
What is the NEM?
The NEM is the National Electricity Market. Operating in NSW, the ACT, QLD, SA, VIC and TAS, the NEM is a wholesale electricity market and includes the network of physical assets like power stations. Energy generated by those assets is then moved around the system and sold through a ‘pool’.
What is an energy distributor?
Energy distributors are responsible for the infrastructure that provides energy to homes and businesses. They take care of things like the poles, wires, grid, substations and natural gas pipes. As distributors cover specific areas or patches, like your local council, you can’t choose who your distributor is.
Your distributor will be the one who communicates with you about power outages. They’re also who you should reach out to for any updates on outages or interruptions. You can find their contact details here if you put in your postcode.
What is an energy retailer?
An energy retailer (like Origin) is a company that supplies natural gas or electricity to consumers. Retailers take the meter readings that are provided from either your distributor or meter provider – depending on your meter type – and generate your bill. They also handle everything from liaising with distributors on things like first and final meter reads (when you’re moving in/out of a property), meter upgrades and inspections, organising special reads, energy offers and applying concessions, through to everyone’s least favourite thing, resolving issues and complaints.
Unlike your distributor, you can choose who your retailer is.
What is an energy generator?
Generators produce electricity, which they can sell to retailers like us. This energy can be from coal or gas, or renewable sources like wind, hydro and solar. Generators also sell energy via the National Electricity Market (NEM), where prices (known as “spot” prices) change every five minutes.
These prices reflect current demand and supply across the NEM, and are influenced by factors like weather, season, time of day, and gas, coal and oil prices.
What is a gentailer?
Like the name suggests, the term ‘gentailer’ combines the terms generator and retailer. It’s a reference to companies who operate in the National Energy Market (NEM) and both generate, and sell, energy to customers via their own retail business
Pricing
What is the daily supply charge?
The daily supply charge is a fixed daily cost that customers pay regardless of how much energy they use. It helps pay for the ongoing maintenance of the national energy grid including things like poles, wires and transformers. It also covers a portion of retailer operating costs.
The supply charge can differ according to your plan, any discount you have and who your distributor is.
What is a usage charge?
Just like the name suggests, usage charges are how retailers bill you for the energy you use at your home or business. Unlike the supply charge, which is fixed, your usage varies depending on your energy habits.
What is a tariff?
A tariff is a pricing structure — it’s the way that you’re charged for the energy you use. It’s normally determined by the type of meter you have and how it’s been set up. Some examples of tariffs include peak, off-peak and time-of-use.
What does peak/off-peak metering mean?
Off-peak refers to reduced electricity rates during specific times, these time periods are usually when households and businesses are using less electricity. The exact times will be different depending on your location and meter type, but they’re typically at night or over the weekend. This is also sometimes referred to as ‘time of use’ metering.
In order to take advantage of off-peak power, you might need to change your tariff – which can be dependant on your meter type. One more thing to be mindful of, before you make the switch, is your usage habits. It pays to look into your households energy usage and make sure you’re using the bulk of your appliances during the specific off peak/shoulder times. Find out more on how you can take advantage of off-peak power.
What is a controlled load?
A controlled load is electricity supplied directly to specific appliances, the most common being electric hot water systems, pool pumps or underfloor heating. These are usually on a separate meter or a dedicated circuit – you might also find you’re charged a lower rate as these appliances operate during times of the day where there may be more energy available in the grid.
What is a fixed-term energy plan?
A fixed-rate energy plan adds security by keeping your rates consistent for a fixed-term usually a 12-month period. Generally, if you are an Origin residential customer, you can switch energy plans at any time (with no exit fees).
What is a ‘block rate’?
Natural gas customers are sometimes charged in ‘block rates’ or ‘steps’. This means when you reach a certain threshold of usage, the price per megajoule changes. Generally, the more gas that’s used, the lower the rate per MJ.
What is the DMO?
The Default Market Offer (DMO) is the maximum price electricity providers can charge customers in NSW, the ACT, SA and parts of QLD who are on a ‘standing offer’ for electricity (a contract with regulated terms).
It’s also called the DMO reference price because it’s a cost benchmark that customers can use to compare offers (also called electricity plans).
The relevant regulator reviews and sets the DMO each year. It’s set by the government in the ACT or the Australian Energy Regulator in NSW, SA and parts of QLD.
What is the VDO?
The VDO, or the Victorian Default Offer, are electricity prices set by the Essential Services Commission for Victorian customers. It’s designed to ensure customers pay a fair price for their energy. In Victoria, any discounts must be advertised off the VDO rates, and any electricity plan advertised must also show you the estimated yearly cost difference between the plan and the VDO.
None of our customers are currently being charged above the VDO
What’s the difference between a supply and street address?
Your supply address is the address that’s listed for your meter in the National Database. This may appear differently to your street address, which can cause you to think we might be billing you for the wrong property. The best way to check this is to compare your meter number with the meter number listed on the second page of your bill. Don’t have a bill yet? Reach out to our friendly Social Media Team and they’d be happy to check this for you. If your meter number matches, we can have the supply address updated to match your street address – we just need a copy of your council rates notice.
And that’s a wrap! Now that you’re up to speed with our lingo, you have all the right info to become the ‘energy whiz’ of your household. Hopefully this cheat sheet will make your life a little easier when you come across these terms in future.
