The number of New Brunswick households rejecting the installation of N.B. Power smart meters has surged to an estimated 17,000, a significant increase compared to the rejection rate reported just last year. N.B. Power is currently finalizing the deployment of up to 388,000 new smart meters throughout the province to enhance its electrical distribution grid by enabling real-time electronic data collection of individual customer consumption.
Despite the growing refusals, N.B. Power clarified that the proposed changes in dealing with opt-out customers, including a threefold increase in costs for retaining old meters, are not intended as penalties. These changes aim to facilitate better outage identification, precise consumption tracking, and potential service innovations like dynamic pricing based on demand fluctuations.
However, the smart meter program has faced opposition from some who raise concerns about health implications, privacy issues, and meter accuracy. One resident, Clarence Maillet of Moncton, expressed unease about potential charges for maintaining his current meter and questioned the necessity of additional fees.
In response to the increased refusals, N.B. Power is seeking approval to implement a $4.65 monthly meter-reading charge for customers opting out of the standard smart meter service. The utility emphasized that the cost recovery from opt-out customers for manual meter readings is essential to ensure fairness among all users.
The utility’s revised opt-out plan, differing from the initial proposal, involves more frequent manual meter readings for those rejecting smart meters to enhance service quality and billing accuracy. N.B. Power aims to improve customer experience despite the additional costs associated with the new plan.
N.B. Power remains focused on customer service enhancements and addressing the unexpected rise in smart meter refusals. The utility anticipates a reduction in opposition over time as customers become accustomed to the technology and engage in further information campaigns to address concerns and encourage opt-in decisions.