1. Why Spike
2. Who can join
Why Spike
The way we produce and use energy has changed, putting more demand on the electricity grid during peak times. That’s why we introduced Spike.
Spike is Origin’s energy-saving reward program. It’s all about having fun and helping the planet at the same time.
When you participate in events, you can earn Watts that you can redeem for PayPal cash, gift cards, enter prize draws, spin to win or purchase smart devices.
Who can join
Spike is available to Origin residential electricity customers with a smart (digital) meter that can be read remotely.
If you’re customer in QLD with a basic meter, you may be eligible for a smart meter upgrade to take part in Spike. Learn more the meter upgrade process.
To be eligible to join Spike:
You have an Origin residential electricity account
You have a smart (digital) electricity meter that can be read remotely
No-one at your address is on life support or has any health conditions that could be impacted by your participation in Spike
You’re registered in My Account.
View the full eligibility criteria in Spike’s terms and conditions.
Getting started with Spike
Step 1 | Sign up to Spike. and have a look around. Get to know the Spike program. |
Step 2 | We’ll send you an email and SMS to let you know when to prepare for your first SpikeHour. These usually happen once a week in the afternoon or evening. |
Step 3 | Participate in SpikeHour to earn Watts. You do this by reducing your energy use and post-poning using power-hungry appliances, such as:
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Step 4 | We’ll send you an email after the event to let you know if you were able to save energy and earn watts. If you did, you can redeem them in the store or use them to play our spinning wheel. |
To learn more about Spike events, earning Watts and spending Watts, see: Participating in Spike
Upgrading your basic meter with Spike
To participate in Origin Spike you need to have a smart (digital) meter. If you live in Queensland, it’s possible to request a free meter upgrade as part of the sign-up process for Spike.
The benefits of having a smart meter:
You can join Spike, Origin’s new energy-saving program that pays you for saving energy
Do away with estimated bills, as your meter will send us automatic reads
Say goodbye to meter readers visiting your property
Choose to take up monthly billing (instead of receiving bills quarterly)
Get an estimate of how much your bill is likely to be with our predicted bill feature
Track your energy usage by billing period, monthly, daily or hourly.
To request a smart meter upgrade when you sign up to Spike:
Step 1 | Begin the sign up process to see if you meet eligibility criteria. |
Step 2 | Follow the prompts until you get to the meter upgrade form. |
Step 3 | Answer the questions and click ‘Submit my request’.
Important: If there's clear and safe access to your meter, you won't need to be there for the installation.
If there's anything at all which could block the technician from accessing the meter, like a locked gate, locked meter box or unrestrained pet, select no to clear and safe access during the sign up process and we’ll contact you to book in a time for you to be available. |
Step 4 | We'll process your request (it can take up to 30 business days). |
Step 5 | Once the request is processed, we'll be in touch to arrange the date and time of installation. This is usually 4 days before installation. |
Step 6 | A technician will visit your property to install your new meter (your power will be turned off for 1-2 hours during this time). |
Installation FAQs
How long does it take to install a smart meter?
It takes about a month from the time you request a meter upgrade to when it's installed. Installation of the meter itself takes around 1 – 2 hours.
When will my new meter be installed?
We'll contact you at least four business days ahead of the installation to confirm the date and time. If your new meter needs to be installed on a specific date, or if someone needs to be there to ensure access to the meter box, please select no to clear and safe access during the sign-up process and we will contact you to book in a time for you to be available.
How does a smart meter avoid estimated bills?
Smart meters send us your meter reads automatically, whereas basic meters need someone to visit your property, view your meter and record your usage.
Do I need to be at the property on the day of installation?
If the technician can access your meter safely without you being home, you don't need to be there — we'll do it all for you. Please ensure there's clear access to the property, the switchboard and the meter on the day by unlocking any locked gates or meter box and restraining any animals, including livestock.
Do I have to make an appointment to arrange my new meter installation?
Appointments are only necessary if your new meter needs to be installed on a specific date, or if someone needs to be there to ensure access to the meter box. If your meter box is accessible, and you're not limited to a specific date, there’s no need to make an appointment.
If I’ve made an appointment, can I change it?
Yes, if we have enough notice. But it's important to let us know as soon as possible. Contact us as soon as you can to get it sorted.
Installation day - what to expect
Our technician will check if your property is ready for the meter works before work starts. If everything looks good, your power will be turned off for one or two hours while we get the job done. Other than that, there should be no other disruption to you.
If our technicians can't access your property or come across anything that prevents the works proceeding — such as pre-existing faults, asbestos or other hazards — then we'll need to discuss this further with you. You may need to arrange for these to be fixed before we can proceed.