Project expected to deliver $19 million in savings to electricity customers
FortisBC proposes to continue improving and modernizing its electrical grid with an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project in an application filed July 26 with the BC Utilities Commission.
With this filing, FortisBC begins a public and transparent regulatory process that will end with a decision from the BC Utilities Commission determining whether or not FortisBC can begin its AMI project.
Should FortisBC receive a positive decision, the utility would proceed to upgrade its electrical grid by exchanging close to 115,000 manually read meters with advanced meters and incorporating the supporting hardware and software. The project is expected to cost approximately $48 million and save customers $19 million over the life of the project. Meter exchanges would begin in 2014 and be complete by the end of 2015.
“FortisBC believes this project will provide enhanced customer service and better value for our customers,” said Tom Loski, vice president of customer service at FortisBC. “When the project is complete, our electricity customers will have a chance for the first time to see in near real-time how much electricity they are using and will be able to make more informed decisions regarding conservation.”
Project highlights include:
- $19 million in savings over the life of the project helping to keep rates lower for electricity customers.
- Enhanced information to help customers manage their electricity consumption, including the ability to see how much power has been used since the last bill.
- Improved ability for FortisBC to detect and restore power outages.
- Reduced electricity theft – FortisBC estimates that $3.7 million of electricity is stolen annually – revenues that would otherwise reduce customer rates.
FortisBC notes the timing of the project also corresponds with new standards from Measurement Canada requiring greater meter accuracy. The enhanced accuracy requirements will require FortisBC to exchange approximately 80,000 electromechanical meters with digital meters whether the AMI project goes ahead or not.
FortisBC is evaluating the business case for advanced meters for natural gas, but at this time has no plans for a similar deployment of remote gas meter reading technology.