(Kevin Martel/980 CJME file photo)

By CKOM News

SaskPower seeking volunteers to get residential smart meters

Mar 15, 2021 | 1:27 PM

SaskPower is set to launch a pilot project to install residential smart meters.

The Crown corporation has installed more than 35,000 smart meters for business and industrial customers since 2017 and now is looking for volunteers interested in having the smart meters installed at their homes starting in May.

“We’re looking forward to providing our customers with the many benefits of smart meters,” Shawn Schmidt, SaskPower’s vice-president of distribution and customer services, said in a media release issued Monday.

“For those who sign up, smart meters eliminate the need for estimated meter readings, provide detailed information on how an individual is using power in their home and, over time, will improve SaskPower’s response to outages.”

In 2014, SaskPower’s attempt to install residential smart meters was halted after a different type of meter than what is being offered now failed in what the corporation called “an unacceptable manner due to dust and moisture getting into the meter.”

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In fact, 10 fires were blamed on the smart meters. More than 100,000 smart meters that had been installed were removed and replaced.

“At no time did the smart meters start house fires in 2014,” SaskPower said Monday. “One house fire occurred while smart meters were being rolled out in 2014 as the result of an electrical fault, but it was unrelated to the meter. No smart meter was ever installed at this home.

“Since then, SaskPower implemented new meter standards and testing procedures to further ensure meter safety.”

As part of the pilot project, homeowners from across the province can apply to have a smart meter installed. There won’t be any charge for the meter or its installation.

More than 1,500 SaskPower employees and more than 2,200 customers who had volunteered over the past year will receive a meter as part of the pilot. Interested customers can sign up here.

Customers participating in SaskPower’s net metering program and those who have been told their meter is due to be replaced also are being encouraged to sign up.

Homeowners in select communities will be given meters. SaskPower didn’t identify the specific centres that would be targeted.

“These communities have experienced higher-than-normal outages and SaskPower is working to improve the customer experience,” the Crown corporation said. “With ongoing work to make our power grid more modern, smart meters will allow us to identify outages with a greater level of accuracy and timeliness.”

Smart meters already are deployed by Saskatoon Light and Power.

A smart meter contains a chip that allows for two-way communication with the utility provider. The meter can report data back to the company to ease the billing process and also can be used to show customers ways of reducing their power use.