Announced in 2010, the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) plans cover installation of almost 500,000 smart meters by SaskPower, and upgrade of 370,000 natural gas meters by SaskEnergy.
SaskPower president and CEO Robert Watson said, ”Smart meter installation is a key part of SaskPower’s ongoing work to renew and improve the provincial electrical grid, and one that will bring real benefits to our customers.”
SaskEnergy president and CEO Doug Kelln said the AMI technology enhances billing accuracy that will assist customers in better gauging their monthly energy consumption.
”AMI will also create significant savings in day-to-day operations for SaskEnergy over the next several years,” Kelln added.
Installed on-site at a customer’s home, farm or business, SaskPower’s meters will replace the old meter, in exactly the same position, while SaskEnergy’s meters upgrade will include installation of a gas module on the existing meter enabling transfer of actual meter read information.
Providing regular information of the customer’s electrical and natural gas consumption through a secure two-way wireless communication system, the new meters are expected to help both companies to use actual consumption information instead of generating estimates for billing purposes.
Installation and upgrade work is scheduled to complete in 2015.
