I don’t know the veracity of stories about smart meters exploding, but I’m sure electricity distributors don’t fit them so that consumers can save money, and for that reason I’d wonder why the tenant wants one.
In any case and based upon the works required in our Plan’s meter room when some Proprietors installed grid-connected solar systems, I believe that:
1) Meters are owned by the electricity distributor
2) They were originally supplied and installed by the electricity distributor for each Proprietor
3) The installations, including fuses, isolators, and wiring to the sub-boards in each Lot are within the Common Property for which the Owners Corporation (O/C) is responsible.
So while the tenant pays the electricity account, they should approach the Proprietor/Landlord about replacing the meter, if in agreement the Proprietor should seek the O/C’s consent to modify the layout of its Meter Room, and if the O/C agrees then, armed with that consent, the tenant should engage a level 2 electrical contractor to obtain a smart meter from the electrical distributor and install that as a replacement for the existing meter.