Schréder Owlet Smart Lighting Controllers Receive NMI Class 1 Meter Approval
Supporting the transition to Type 9 metering and smarter, more measurable street lighting in Australia
Schréder is pleased to announce that its Owlet Smart Lighting Controllers have received a Certificate of Approval from the National Measurement Institute (NMI) as Class 1 electric meters.
The approval follows a rigorous technical and regulatory process and marks an important milestone in supporting the transition to Type 9 metering for street lighting and connected devices in Australia.
What is Type 9 metering?
Released in May 2026, Type 9 metering enables streetlights and street furniture to be charged based on actual electricity consumption rather than an aggregated load. Large-scale adoption is expected from late 2026 and into 2027.
For councils, utilities and road authorities, this creates an opportunity to combine accurate energy measurement with smart lighting controls.
Strategies such as dimming, trimming and Constant Light Output (CLO) can help reduce energy consumption. With actual consumption being measured, these strategies can also provide a clearer pathway to financial benefits, alongside environmental outcomes.
Smart metering and connected lighting
Type 9 metering requires more than simply measuring electricity consumption. Connected streetlight controllers need to support capabilities including:
- Five-minute metering data
- Local data storage during outages
- Auditable data extraction
- Asset management and error tracking
- Integration with a suitable Customer Management System (CMS)
Schréder's EXEDRA smart lighting management platform can provide the CMS environment to support connected lighting assets and the data requirements associated with the Type 9 metering process.
Making the transition to Type 9
Moving from an unmetered load to Type 9 involves several steps, including installation, Metering Data Provider notification, asset data management, CMS configuration and activation as a Type 9 metered load.
For large-scale deployments, planning and accurate asset data are critical. Schréder recommends simulating the potential cost benefit before switching, automating asset data wherever possible and allowing for the longer lead times and additional requirements associated with Type 9 metering.
A significant milestone for Schréder
Achieving NMI Class 1 meter approval for the Owlet Smart Lighting Controllers has required significant technical expertise, collaboration and persistence.
Schréder would like to acknowledge Dillon Bliss-Heneghan, Filipe Jorge Coelho and Ana Santos for their dedication and technical focus throughout the approval process.
The combination of NMI-approved metering, smart lighting controls and EXEDRA provides a foundation for organisations looking to make their street lighting networks more connected, measurable and intelligent.
