February 3, 2014 – Hydro-Quebec says it has installed 1,136,000 next-generation meters since the beginning of the project, while 65% of the 1.7 million meters included in the first phase of the project are already in service.

According to Hydro-Quebec, it has reduced the cost of the first phase by $13 million by maintaining tight control over costs.

The next-generation meters boast functions to help improve service to customers, including:
• Automated transmission of consumption data
• Billing based on actual consumption rather than estimates
• Faster outage detection
• Ability for customers to monitor their electricity consumption through their Customer Space on Hydro-Quebec’s website.

In accordance with the Régie de l’énergie’s decision, customers who do not wish to have a next-generation meter installed at their homes can opt out by paying the related costs. Hydro-Quebec noted it will soon ask the Régie de l’énergie to reduce the costs associated with opting out. Since deployment began, the percentage of customers who selected the opt-out plan remains stable at around 0.3%.

Over the next five years, Hydro-Quebec said it must replace its meter fleet throughout the province with next-generation meters, since the previous technology is outdated and electromechanical meters are no longer available on the market.