We knew it would be coming but just weren't sure when.
Now we know when - "Installation of meters would begin in 2019, with completion of full deployment expected in 2020."
Many of you may not care, but that may be a result of not knowing whats REALLY in store for us - here is how a section called "FAST FACTS" from Nova Scotia Power is trying to make it sound like it's ALL for us, the consumer:
70% of Canadian homes have smart meters. There are nearly 10 million smart meters already installed in Canada.
Empowering customers with information: Smart meters put the power in customers’ hands and enable them to make better decisions on their energy use. Customers will be able to log onto their personal account to see their energy use and set billing alerts to stay on budget.
Improved customer experience: Smart meters will enable better service reliability and billing accuracy. The new meters will alert Nova Scotia Power immediately when a customer’s power goes out, so we can send a crew and restore power more quickly without customers having to call us.
No additional cost to customers: There is no installation fee for customers to upgrade to a smart meter and they will not affect current power rates. In fact, smart meters will save the electricity system $38 million over the 20-year life of the project.
Protection of customer data: Electricity usage data will be encrypted and transmitted to Nova Scotia Power over a safe, secure, and private wireless network. No personal identifying information is included in the data transfer – just the account number and energy usage.
So everyone else has them, we will be empowered, it won't cost us anything, and they promise to protect our data. Where have we heard all this BS before?
Oh, and in case you don't want to read the full news release just ask yourself this: Why would a utility company spend $133 million now to save only $38 million over 20 years-----ya, it must be all for us, the consumer.
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Here is the full news release:
News Release
JUNE 12, 2018
Nova Scotia Power set to roll out smart meters following UARB approval
HALIFAX –– An innovative, interactive and customer-focused energy future is on the horizon for Nova Scotia families and businesses. Today, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB) approved Nova Scotia Power’s plan to upgrade all customers to smart meters, which will provide customers with detailed and timely information about their energy use.
“This is an important step forward that will enable our company to better serve our customers,” says Karen Hutt, President and CEO, Nova Scotia Power. “Smart meter technology will allow us to create a more modern energy grid capable of supporting future innovation for years to come and help drive our objective of providing the best customer experience possible.”
The $133 million project to upgrade its existing analog and digital meters to smart meters comes at no additional costs for customers. Once the new smart meter network is up and running, customers will experience benefits such as access to more information about their daily energy use, more efficient power restoration during outages and more accurate billing by virtually eliminating bill estimates. Over the next 20 years, switching to smart meters will reduce costs in the electricity system by approximately $38 million, which will help Nova Scotia Power continue to provide rate stability to customers.
The latest smart meter technology will capture customers’ energy use in intervals as frequently as 15 minutes. This data will be sent several times a day to Nova Scotia Power through a safe, secure, and private wireless network that will be built as part of the project, whereas current meters require manual readings in-person.
After carefully reviewing the Board’s decision and conditions included as part of regulatory approval Nova Scotia Power plans to spend the next year building and testing the secure communication network as part of the project. During this time, meter installation planning will also be underway and further information will be communicated to customers on smart meters and how they can maximize their benefits. Customers will be contacted well in advance of any installation activity, which is expected to begin in late 2019.
For more information on Nova Scotia Power’s smart meter project, visit nspower.ca/smartmeters.
FOR BROADCAST USE
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TODAY, THE NOVA SCOTIA UTILITY AND REVIEW BOARD APPROVED NOVA SCOTIA POWER’S PLAN TO UPGRADE ALL CUSTOMERS TO DIGITAL SMART METERS.
NOVA SCOTIA POWER PRESIDENT AND CEO KAREN HUTT SAYS THAT SWITCHING TO SMART METERS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD AND WILL ENABLE THE COMPANY TO BETTER SERVE ITS CUSTOMERS. SHE SAYS THAT SMART METER TECHNOLOGY WILL ALSO ALLOW NOVA SCOTIA POWER TO CREATE A MORE MODERN ENERGY GRID CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING FUTURE INNOVATION FOR YEARS TO COME.
THE PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON REPLACING ALL EXISTING METERS WITH SMART METERS. METER READINGS WILL BE SENT SEVERAL TIMES A DAY TO NOVA SCOTIA POWER THROUGH A SAFE, SECURE, AND PRIVATE WIRELESS NETWORK BUILT AS PART OF THE PROJECT, WHEREAS CURRENT METERS REQUIRE IN PERSON MANUAL READINGS.
ONCE THE NEW SMART METER NETWORK IS UP AND RUNNING, IT WILL ENABLE A HOST OF NEW CUSTOMER OPTIONS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR ENERGY USE. UPGRADING TO SMART METERS COMES AT NO ADDITIONAL COSTS TO CUSTOMERS.
INFORMATION WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO CUSTOMERS WELL IN ADVANCE OF ANY INSTALLATION ACTIVITY, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN TWENTY NINETEEN.
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About Nova Scotia Power
Nova Scotia Power Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emera Inc. (TSX-EMA), a diversified energy and services company. Nova Scotia Power provides 95% of the generation, transmission and distribution of electrical power to 507,000 customers in the province. The company is focused on new technologies to enhance customer service and reliability, reduce emissions and add renewable energy. Nova Scotia Power has 1,700 employees and $4.6 billion in assets. Learn more at www.nspower.ca
