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Electricity energy meters for use in the Australian market must be Pattern Approved, this involves a process of assessing and testing the electricity energy meter to comply with metrology conditions per NMI M 6-1.

Many sceptics thought it was impossible to achieve NMI Approval for a Multifunction Electricity Meter designed in a compact DIN rail footprint. In fact many doomsday forecasters predicted electrical switchboard enclosures, distribution boards, riser/cupboard spaces for multifunction metering would have to be increased in size to accommodate larger electrical metering to be in compliance for Energy Meters per NMI M 6-1.

SATEC continue to set the standard in Energy Metering design with the release of the NMI Approved BFM136 Multi Circuit Meter, suitable for use on multiple electrical circuits.

One of the many technical and metrology requirements for obtaining pattern approval and verification from The National Measurement Institute (NMI) for any active-energy electricity meter to be used for trade is for the energy meter to pass the 12KV impulse test.

Any din rail electricity meter used for sub-metering is now required to comply with NMI testing standards for energy meters.

From January 2013, the exemption for energy meters used for trade (billing customers) was lifted, meaning energy meters used in residential, commercial and other businesses environments must now have NMI (National Measurement Institute) approval.