Residential

About Aurora PAY AS YOU GO

Tasmanian residents

When you install an APAYG meter in your home, you will never receive another power bill again. And that means no more surprises and more control over your budget.

What is Aurora PAY AS YOU GO?

Aurora PAY AS YOU GO is a meter that allows you to purchase 'electricity credits' which are placed onto a special Smart Card. You can charge your card with any amount between $5 and $200 at any one of Aurora's PAY AS YOU GO (APAYG) Agents around Tasmania. After charging, you insert your Smart Card into your Aurora PAY AS YOU GO meter and the amount of credit you have purchased will be transferred to the meter. You receive no more bills in the post, and you control when and how much you pay.

back to top

How does it work?

Aurora PAY AS YOU GO meters are operated using Smart Card technology. The concept is simple. Your Aurora PAY AS YOU GO card is 'charged' with electricity credits at any one of many Aurora PAY AS YOU GO (APAYG) Agents around Tasmania. When you slip the card in your meter, the credits are transferred and you have effectively prepaid your energy usage. You can recharge your card by purchasing more credit when it suits you best.

The Aurora PAY AS YOU GO meter has a display screen that shows you how much credit you have at any given time. It will also help you take advantage of cheaper electricity rates at different times of the day and displays when it's time to purchase more credits. The meter also features a safety net Emergency Credit facility to ensure you are not left without power.

Apply for Aurora PAY AS YOU GO

back to top

Your 3-month trial period

On the date your Aurora PAY AS YOU GO meter is installed, you'll automatically begin a three-month trial period. This means that you'll have three months to get to know your local recharge agent, and get used to recharging your Smart Card and putting it into your meter. If you're not completely happy with Aurora PAY AS YOU GO, you can contact us on 1300 13 2003 and we will remove your meter free of charge (a saving of $58) within those first three months.

back to top

Charging up your new card

For your safety and security, your Aurora PAY AS YOU GO Smart Card will work only in your meter. Once you receive your card, sign it immediately. You can then purchase any amount of credit between $5 and $200 by taking the card to an Aurora PAY AS YOU GO (APAYG) Agent.

back to top

Recharge Agent locations

For your convenience Aurora PAY AS YOU GO Recharge Agents are located all throughout Tasmania. You can search for the nearest Recharge Agent locations to you at Aurora PAY AS YOU GO Agent locations.

View Aurora PAY AS YOU GO Agent locations.

Note: Aurora PAY AS YOU GO Agents prefer cash transactions. They are not obliged to accept cheque, EFTPOS or credit card.

back to top

Charging up your meter

When you insert your Smart Card in the meter, the amount you purchased will be transferred to the meter. You can then remove the card from the slot. If you're a new customer, the first time your card is inserted the display will show that the settings have changed. It will then show the value of credit that has been taken from the card.

back to top

How much does it cost to install?

Your Aurora PAY AS YOU GO meter will be installed for a once only fee of $55.

Apply for Aurora PAY AS YOU GO

back to top

Moving in?

If you are moving into premises that already have an Aurora PAY AS YOU GO meter, phone 1300 13 2003 and then you'll then be able to collect a new Aurora PAY AS YOU GO Smart Card from your nearest Aurora PAY AS YOU GO (APAYG) Agent. A one-off establishment fee (outlined in you What is Aurora PAY AS YOU GO brochure) will be deducted from the meter on or after your first Aurora PAY AS YOU GO transaction. Please make sure you purchase enough credit to cover this fee. The display screen will show you how much credit you have at any given time.

back to top

Moving out?

If you are moving out please call us on 1300 13 2003 to let us know. If you are unsure of your meter type please call us on 1300 13 2003.

Moving out from a residence with a Siemens Meter?

When leaving for the last time, put your Smart Card into your meter for a final reading of your credit. Then take your card into an Aurora PAY AS YOU GO (APAYG) Agent to verify that reading. To claim a refund for the remaining credit on your card mail the card to:
Aurora PAY AS YOU GO
GPO Box 191,
Hobart TAS 7001.

Include a message saying how you would like to be refunded.
Refund options include: cheque (which will be sent to you by mail); a credit to your new electricity account (if moving to premises without Aurora PAY AS YOU GO); or a credit to a new Aurora PAY AS YOU GO meter (if your new home has an Aurora PAY AS YOU GO meter).

Moving out from a residence with an ACTARIS Talexus PayGuard?

Call Aurora on 1300 13 2003, then, just before you move, you will need to close down your meter so you can collect any remaining credit at your Recharge Agent. This can be done by pressing the blue button for 5 seconds – the meter will then start beeping. If you insert your Smart Card whilst still holding the blue button in, any outstanding credit (or debt) will be downloaded onto your Smart Card. Next, take your Smart Card into a Recharge Agent to settle your account. The Smart Card will be retained by the Recharge Agent.

back to top

How your meter works

Siemens PAY AS YOU GO Meter

Insert the card with the picture-side facing left. The main display will always show the value of the credit (or debt) that is in the meter.

The value displayed on your meter is affected in three ways:

(1) By the amount of electricity credits that you 'top up' your meter with

(2) By the amount of electricity you use

(3) By the deduction of daily fixed charges

When you press the BLUE BUTTON you can scroll through the following meter displays to find out:

• Meter readings in kilowatt hours (kWh) for each rate. (Each reading is followed by a display of its corresponding rate in cents/kWh. The rate showing "NOW" is the rate you are currently being charged.)
• Total energy in kWh.
• The Standing Charge in $ per week. This is made up of the Services and Meter charges. It also includes any outstanding debt that you may have with Aurora. (You will always be notified of any special arrangement to collect a debt.)
• The Emergency Credit Threshold. Emergency Credit becomes available when the level of remaining credit falls below this amount (currently $3).
• The Emergency Credit Limit. This is the amount of Emergency Credit available for use.
• If you do not press the blue button again within 10 seconds, the meter will revert to the main display.

ACTARIS Talexus PayGuard

The front panel of your meter provides operating instructions. The number in brackets on the left hand side of the display indicates what information is being displayed at any time. e.g. [1] is the default display showing the value of the credit that is in the meter. If no extra credit is added to the amount, the credit value displayed will decrease in two ways:

(1) according to the amount of electricity you use, and

(2) by the deduction of daily fixed charges (this may also include a daily deduction resulting from the repayment of an outstanding debt).

• test display
• time and the current pricing rate being applied
• date and the current pricing rate being applied
• total credit which has been entered into the meter [2]
• the Standing Charge in dollars per week [3]. This is made up of the Services and Meter Charges and any debt charges
• total energy consumption which is the sum of consumption in all rates
• meter readings in kWh for each rate. Each reading is followed by a display of its corresponding rate in $/kWh [4].

• the Emergency Credit Limit [5]. This is the amount of Emergency Credit available for use
• debt to pay [6] shows the total amount of debt remaining to be paid by fixed debt repayments
• debt charge per week [7] shows the debt repayment rate to be taken by the meter over a period of one week until the debt is recovered.

back to top

Emergency Credit

Emergency Credit is a safety net that ensures you won’t be left in the dark. It is an amount of credit (currently $10) that you are able to use when the available credit has run out and you are unable to immediately get to an Aurora PAY AS YOU GO (APAYG) Agent to recharge your Smart Card. As the name suggests, it is for use in emergencies only!

Here's how it works

When your credit gets down to $3, the display screen will show that Emergency Credit is available. This is a reminder that you will need to purchase more credit. To access the $10 of Emergency Credit, you must press the RED/ORANGE BUTTON on the meter. When all of the normal credit has been used, the display will show both the amount of Emergency Credit available and the debt in the meter. As you use electricity, the amount of Emergency Credit available decreases and the amount of debt increases.

What happens if your Emergency Credit runs out?

When Emergency Credit runs out, the meter will shut down and the power will turn off. It will still accumulate standing and fixed charges. The meter can be switched back on by purchasing additional credit on your card at an Aurora PAY AS YOU GO (APAYG) Agent and inserting the card in the meter as you would normally.

You won't be left in the dark - Siemens PAY AS YOU GO Meters

For your safety and convenience you will not lose your electricity supply between 8 pm and 8 am (9 pm and 9 am during daylight saving time) even if you run out of credit or Emergency Credit. However, if you run out of Emergency Credit before 8 pm, you will have to buy more credit to restore power. But remember, your meter display screen will alert you when credit is low.

You won't be left in the dark - ACTARIS TaleXus PayGuards

If you have an ACTARIS Talexus PayGuard you will not lose your electricity supply between 2 pm and 9 am even if you run out of credit or Emergency Credit. However, if you run out of Emergency Credit before 2 pm, you will have to buy more credit to restore power.

back to top

Time of use savings

Aurora PAY AS YOU GO meters offer time of use savings, which means that you can take advantage of different electricity rates at different times of the day. You'll also notice that there are pricing combinations for weekdays, weekends and different months of the year. During these timeslots, all of your appliances will be charged at the respective rate. So by organising your electricity usage carefully around the Aurora PAY AS YOU GO timeslots you'll notice a saving in your power costs.

For example, you'll make savings if you use appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and clothes dryers after 4pm during cheaper time-slots. Many appliances have built in timers, or you can use a plug-in timer to set them running during cheaper timeslots. Washing clothes in cold water saves money, and dishwashers that heat the water themselves are cheaper to run than those that don't. Even simple things like doing the ironing in a cheaper time slot will help you save money.

And just like customers on standard meters, opting for OffPeak or the Aurora Heating Discount can save you even more.

If your residence is already wired for these tariffs then the Aurora PAY AS YOU GO OffPeak or Aurora PAY AS YOU GO Aurora Heating Discount prices apply to you.

(*Note: Pensioner discounts apply to all Aurora PAY AS YOU GO rates including Aurora PAY AS YOU GO OffPeak and the Aurora PAY AS YOU GO Aurora Heating Discount.)

back to top

Aurora PAY AS YOU GO Rates and Charges

The following rates and charges apply to Aurora PAY AS YOU GO for general customers from the 1st July 2008.

* Seasons align with Tasmanian Eastern Daylight Time (daylight savings). Rates current from the 1st July 2008, but may be subject to change. Prices are inclusive of GST.

back to top

Fees

• Installation Fee – $55.00
• Moving In/Moving Out Fee – this fee only applies if you are moving in or out of a residence that already has Aurora PAY AS YOU GO installed – $25.70
• Replacement Fee for lost or damaged Smart Card – $20.00
• Removal Fee (after 3 month trial) – $58.00
• Deposit Fee for accuracy test of meter – $54.00
• Reconnection Fee – this fee only applies if you need to be reconnected due to illegal use or meter tampering – $54.00

back to top

"Soft Start" for safety

This information is for Siemens PAY AS YOU GO meters only. If you are unsure, please call us on 1300 13 2003.

Siemens Aurora PAY AS YOU GO meters are programmed with a feature called 'Time of Use' pricing which means that you can take advantage of different electricity rates at different times of the day. The less power you use in the higher rate times, the more you save. To limit the burden placed on the distribution system that would occur if thousands of meters were switched simultaneously, the exact time that each meter adjusts the rates applied is either delayed or advanced by up to fifteen minutes (compared to the time-slots shown on the Rates and Charges schedule).

To see the time that your meter adjusts the rates, press the blue button on your meter until the display shows "Time-switch adjust on + or – xx minutes."

For example, if your meter displays "Timeswitch adjust on + 10 mins" then your timeslots are all ten minutes later than the ones shown in the Rates and Charges schedule. If your meter displays "Time-switch adjust on - 15 mins" then your time-slots are all fifteen minutes earlier than the ones shown in the Rates and Charges schedule.

Aurora PAY AS YOU GO meters are programmed with a feature called 'Time of Use' pricing which means that you can take advantage of different electricity rates at different times of the day. The less power you use in the higher rate times, the more you save. To limit the burden placed on the distribution system that would occur if thousands of meters were switched simultaneously, the exact time that each meter adjusts the rates applied is either delayed or advanced by up to fifteen minutes (compared to the time-slots shown on the Rates and Charges schedule).

To see the time that your meter adjusts the rates, press the blue button on your meter until the display shows "Time-switch adjust on + or – xx minutes."

For example, if your meter displays "Timeswitch adjust on + 10 mins" then your timeslots are all ten minutes later than the ones shown in the Rates and Charges schedule. If your meter displays "Time-switch adjust on - 15 mins" then your time-slots are all fifteen minutes earlier than the ones shown in the Rates and Charges schedule.

back to top

What about daylight saving?

Your Aurora PAY AS YOU GO meter automatically adjusts rate-switching times when daylight saving starts and ends. If you have a Siemens PAY AS YOU GO meter the time displayed doesn't change (so will be an hour behind during daylight saving time). If you have an ACTARIS TaleXus Payguard, the clock will automatically adjust and display the correct time.

back to top

What if I go away?

If you want appliances such as your fridge, freezer or hot water cylinder to keep running while you're away make sure you have sufficient credit in your meter. Remember that the credit amount should be enough to cover both the cost of running the appliances AND daily fixed charges.

If you're not concerned about your appliances staying on while you're away, you can leave your meter to run out of credit. When you arrive back home you can pay back the fixed charges that will have accumulated, so make sure that when you recharge your card that you buy sufficient credit to cover those costs.

Tip: Remember it will take a few hours for your hot water cylinder to warm up.

back to top

What if I lose my Smart Card?

If you lose your card, please call Aurora on 1300 13 2003 to arrange for a replacement.

You'll be able to collect it from your nearest authorised Aurora PAY AS YOU GO (APAYG) agent. Once you use the replacement card, your old card will no longer work. There is a $20 charge for replacement cards. There is, of course, no fee when your card is replaced due to a technical fault. Please take good care of your card. If you find your lost card, please call Aurora on 1300 132 003.

back to top

What if my Smart Card gets damaged?

If your Smart Card is damaged, you should report it to Aurora on 1300 13 2003. You will be asked to destroy your damaged card and collect a replacement card from your Aurora PAY AS YOU GO Agent. There is a $20 charge for replacement cards. There is, of course, no fee when your card is replaced due to a technical fault.

back to top

Need help with your card or meter?

If the meter cannot read your card, the display will give an 'invalid' or 'void' message. Should this happen, or if you have any problems with your meter, contact us online or call 1300 132 003, Monday to Friday 7 am – 7 pm, Saturday 9 am – 12 noon. (Outside these hours call 13 2004).

back to top

Can I save money using Aurora PAY AS YOU GO?

Everyone is different and so are their power needs, so saving money with Aurora PAY AS YOU GO really depends on the individual. However, as a guide, you can maximise your savings with Aurora PAY AS YOU GO by shifting as much electricity use into the more economical timeslots as possible. This may include running washing machines, dishwashers and dryers during cheaper timeslots, or using your electric heating in the winter evenings.

Whether you end up paying less or more is not the only thing to think about when making a decision on Aurora PAY AS YOU GO. Consider the other benefits - no more bills, easier budgeting and more control over what you spend. It's up to you.

Some conditions

If you live outside a 20km radius of an Aurora PAY AS YOU GO Agent, you will be required to sign an Out of Area Agreement that indicates that you understand the limitations that this can present.

Aurora PAY AS YOU GO cannot be connected to residences that have any life support systems that run on mains power.

Aurora PAY AS YOU GO can only be connected to common single-phase power supplies. (If you are unsure as to what the power supply of your home is, call a licensed electrical contractor.)

Aurora PAY AS YOU GO (APAYG) Agents prefer cash transactions. They are not obliged to accept cheque, EFTPOS or credit card.

View complete terms and conditions for Aurora PAY AS YOU GO (PDF 203KB)

back to top

POLICIES | CUSTOMER CHARTER | TARIFF AGREEMENT | DISCLAIMER | SITE MAP | FAQs | CONTACT US

© 2008 Aurora Energy Pty Ltd ABN 85 082 464 622