Starting this week, City of Red Deer crews will begin replacing electric meters on residential and commercial properties across the city as part of a significant upgrade to Red Deer’s electric utility system. The Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Meter Exchange Program will roll out neighbourhood by neighbourhood over the next six to eight months.
The new AMI meters automatically transmit electricity usage data to The City through a secure wireless network, replacing a manual meter-reading process and giving crews faster, more accurate information about the state of the city’s electrical grid.
The City’s existing metering system is aging, and replacement parts are increasingly difficult to source. The AMI upgrade future-proofs the electric utility and delivers meaningful improvements for both residents and The City, including fewer estimated bills and greater operational efficiency.
“Upgrading to AMI meters is about building a more reliable, efficient electric system for Red Deer,” said Russ Watts, Interim Utilities Services Manager. “This technology gives us better information about how the system is performing, helps us respond to outages more quickly, and supports the long-term sustainability of our utility.”
Most meter replacements take approximately 10 minutes and require only a brief interruption to power. In most cases, crews will only need access to the exterior meter and do not need to enter homes or businesses. Residents and business owners will see signage in their area when workers are nearby.
Residents who do not want to participate in the AMI meter replacement program have an opportunity to opt-out, however fees will apply for continued manual meter reading service.
More information about the AMI Meter Exchange Program, including neighbourhood installation timelines and frequently asked questions, is available at reddeer.ca/AMI.