Over 70 Aurora Energy customers took part in the trial – beginning in October – which utilised new advanced meters, a mobile app and online portal.

The new product had been developed to replace the “ageing” technology of the existing system now “coming to the end of its functional life”.

Dubbed Pay As You Go Plus, or PAYG+, the ability to see and manage energy usage from a phone was a great advantage for Malcolm Liehr, a Mowbray resident who participated in the trial.

“It’s just so much better than the existing means of paying for my energy because I have personal access and visibility of what I’m using and what I’m paying for,” Mr Liehr said.

“I really like being able to see my energy use prior to receiving my bill ... this gives me better control over my energy costs.”

The new system will be rolled out to existing PAYG customers – should they wish – in regions across the state over the next year.

The first of those customers are expected to be running the system in early 2019.

Following this, the technology will be made available to other customers.

Aurora Energy chief executive Rebecca Kardos was encouraged to know the product had resonated with trial participants.

Ms Kardos said she believed they had created a product which met their customers’ needs, but to hear it first hand from customers was “really satisfying”.

While you're with us, you can now sign up to receive breaking news updates and daily headlines direct to your inbox. Sign up here.