Smart Meters Coming to Benefit Customers
The Smart Meter Program (SMP), a five-year project to upgrade Ameren Missouri’s communication network, is set to launch this summer with 1.2 million smart electric meters and 132,000 smart gas modules to be installed for residential and business customers throughout the Ameren Missouri service territory. This is the largest project within the Smart Energy Plan – which was made possible by the 2018 passage of SB 564 by the Missouri Legislature.
Upgraded smart meters use advanced meter infrastructure technology (AMI) to provide two-way meter communication. They will replace outdated automated meter reading (AMR) infrastructure. The existing AMR system is more than 20 years old, does not allow for two-way communication, cannot provide near real-time information to customers, and the technology will be obsolete and no longer supported by vendors by 2025.
The upgraded meters' two-way communication capability, along with network updates, will allow Ameren Missouri to detect and isolate outages sooner, restore service more promptly, and provide customers with more energy choices and benefits. Ameren Missouri will start electric smart meter upgrades in July 2020, and deployment will be completed by 2025. Gas meter upgrades will begin in 2022.
Work on the smart meter system began in 2019 with system design, network deployment, and upgrades to the meter shop. System upgrades, including network deployment, are continuing in the first half of 2020 to support the installation of the first smart meters. The chart below shows the timeline for planned installations from 2020 to 2025.
Benefits of smart meters:
• CONVENIENCE – Customers will experience quicker restoration after outages and faster connection when moving or starting service, thanks to how the meter works with the updated energy grid.
• CHOICE – Customers can choose from a range of new rate options including time of use plans that offer the flexibility to pay less when they use energy during off-peak hours.
• CONTROL – Customers will get more precise energy usage information to help better manage their energy habits – and potentially save on their bill.
Customers will receive communications prior to smart meter installation with a timeframe and details of what to expect. On the day of installation, installers will let customers know they've arrived and will leave a door tag notice to let them know that installation took place or requesting the customer to call to schedule an installation appointment. Approximately two weeks after installation, customers will receive a brochure outlining the benefits of their new smart meter and introducing new rate options.
Learn more about smart meters by visiting Ameren Missouri Smart Meter Info.