Victorian electricity procurement programme 'too costly to stop'

The Victorian Government will continue with its smart meter procurement operations because it is too costly to stop the rollout, the government said.

The programme, initiated under the previous government, was first expected to cost $800 million, but the latest estimates put it at $2.3 billion. An independent review recommended by the auditor-general showed Victorians would pay more for electricity if the rollout was stopped now.

Victoria is the first state to have a broad, mandatory rollout of smart meters, which make power usage and readings more efficient.

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