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Advanced Meter Information

As of 2022, over 119 million advanced meters (informally called “smart” meters) have been installed in the United States – accounting for 72% of all U.S. electricity customers. Residential customers accounted for about 88% of total AMI installation. This trend is expected to continue as customers realize the benefits of the new technology. In 2019, the PUD, after careful evaluation, determined that it was feasible and cost-effective to enter into a forward-looking meter strategy to bring the PUD’s meter technology up-to-date and be well-positioned for the future growth and needs of Clallam County PUD customers. Advanced meter upgrades are scheduled to be substantially complete by December 2025. The completion of this project will bring many immediate benefits including:

  • Enhanced customer privacy due to significantly reduced need for PUD employees to access customer property
  • Enhanced outage assessment and restoration capabilities - "offline" meters create an outage alarm enabling the PUD to investigate and restore power even if you're away from home.
  • Improved electrical distribution system operations, including voltage control and customer power quality investigations. PUD employees may be able to diagnose a power quality issue on the distribution network remotely.
  • Reliability improvements, including a faster diagnosis and response to outages caused by storms, car vs. pole accidents, etc. significantly improving PUD's ability to quickly and safely restore your power.
  • Reduction in the PUD’s carbon footprint by reducing the need for vehicles making trips for meter reading, disconnect/reconnect, and trouble calls.
  • Consistent billing cycles and no meter estimates (sometimes used when weather or other access issues prevent meter readers from reading meters)
  • More accurate bills (electromechanical (analog) meters which consist of rotating aluminum discs mounted on a spindle between two electromagnets lose accuracy over time as the mechanism wears and the counterbalancing magnetic forces become unbalanced over time due to various factors)
  • Remote disconnect meters offer faster service for connecting and disconnection of service
  • Enhanced employee safety and reduced accidents
  • Energy theft protection

Advanced Meter Frequently Asked Questions

Since the beginning of this transition, PUD customers had option to opt-out of advanced meters. The cost savings not realized by opting out is charged to the customers who have opted out. As technologies phase out, PUD is no longer able to source new electromechanical (analog) meters or parts to refurbish existing electromechanical meters.

PUD will continue serve opt-out customers with digital meters which are similar to analog meters in principle. They have AC (alternating current) sensors that detect amperage and voltage from the grid. Unlike their mechanical counterpart, they have an electronic display. This is analogous to comparison between a mechanical watch and a digital watch. These digital meters similar to analog meters do not have communication capabilities.

The advanced meter operates in 900 MHz Radio Frequency (RF) in the unlicensed UHF band, and the maximum transmission is at 0.5 watt occurring within a range of 0.3 seconds to 2 seconds per day. Based on average reads the total transmitting period over a full year will average about 12 minutes. Standing in front of an advanced meter for an entire year is roughly the same exposure to RF as a short phone call or wirelessly streaming a short video.

We invite you to review the links below for more information. If you still have concerns about remote-read or advanced meters, we have an opt-out program available.

Opt-Out Programs

The District’s AMI meter opt-out program is based on the actual costs incurred for the manual processes involved for PUD employees to manage these programs. The meter used for a customer who opts out of an advanced or remote-read meter will be a digital meter without the remote-read component.

For opt-out customers with multiple electric meters, or with both a PUD electric and water meter, the opt-out fee shall be assessed per service address, provided that the same account holder is named on all accounts. The opt-out fee(s) will be billed per the current Schedule of Deposits and Charges (PDF) (costs are subject to change as the Schedule of Deposits and Charges changes). An access appointment fee may be assessed if the change request is occurring outside of regular route maintenance.

Summary

The PUD will read the meter every other month, estimating the months in between, and the customer will be charged a monthly opt-out fee.

If at any time an opt-out customer disconnects their account or falls within any of the below exceptions, the PUD will return the service to a remote-read or advanced meter. The opt-out program shall be available to all customers except for the following:

  • Customers who participate in services or optional rates that require advanced metering (e.g. Net Metering and Pre-Pay);
  • Customers who are found to tamper with the meter or cut the meter seal;
  • Customers who have poly-phase service or are served by a demand meter;
  • Any field trip made to the location to disconnect for nonpayment;
  • Locations enrolled in the Continuous Service program for landlords. Continuous service allows an account owned by a tenant to revert back into the landlord’s name in the event of a vacancy;
  • Customers who violate the 1201 - Facilities Access Policy.

No monthly fees will be assessed until your route is scheduled for the advanced meter upgrade unless your meter is currently on an existing fully automated remote-read route.

Remote-Read or Advanced Meter Opt-Out Form

If you currently have an opt-out form on file with us and have reconsidered your options because you would like to take advantage of what advanced meters have to offer, such as more accurate bills, limited need for PUD to access your property, enhanced outage assessment and restoration, and reduced carbon footprint, you may submit a Remote-read or Advanced Meter Opt-In Form to cancel your opt-out selection and receive a remote-read or advanced meter.

Remote-read or Advanced Meter Opt-In Form

Customers with opt-out forms on file will be notified when their route is going to be changed out so they know that they will begin to be assessed the opt-out fee, giving them an opportunity to cancel the opt-out and receive an advanced meter.

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