What is an NMI ? (National Metering Identifier)

In Australia, a National Metering Identifier (NMI) is a unique 10 or 11-digit number assigned to every electricity connection point in the National Electricity Market (NEM).

The key points about NMIs are:

• Each NMI uniquely identifies a metering installation or connection point where electricity is supplied to a customer
  
  
• NMIs are used for customer registration, transfer between retailers, connection point management, data aggregation and transfer in the NEM
  
  
• NMIs are required when switching electricity retailers, requesting new connections, or submitting meter reads.
  
  
• NMIs are found on electricity bills, usually in the top left corner of the last page.
  
  
• A property can have multiple NMIs if there are separately metered connections, e.g. a farm with multiple buildings, a retirement village or a block of flats.
  
  
• The NMI identifies the connection point, not the customer. So, the NMI does not change if the customer moves premises.
  
  
• NMIs are stored in the Australian Energy Market Operator's (AEMO) Market Settlement and Transfer Solution (MSATS) system.
  
  
• Access to NMI standing data (details about the connection point) is regulated under the National Electricity Rules for market participants like retailers and distributors.
  
  
• NMIs are often written on a label applied to a retail meter by the electrician who installs it, however the meter number is serialised and indelibly marked by the meter manufacturer.
  
• Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) are no longer allowed to participate in NEM metering, so new utility meters are managed by electricity retailers. However both organisations should have records of both NMI and Meter number.

The NMI is a crucial identifier for electricity connections and metering in the NEM, enabling accurate customer registration, billing and market settlement processes.