The installation of Smart Meters to Oakville residential customers has begun and will continue through to the Fall of 2010.
Your Smart Meter is the first step in building Ontario’s new smart metering system – and a key step in building a culture of conservation. By 2010 every home and small business in Ontario will have a Smart Meter as mandated by the Ontario Government.
Smart Meters enable electricity use to be measured on an hourly basis. In the future, that will allow different electricity rates to apply at different times of the day.
Once your Smart Meter is installed you will be provided with a Smart Meters Answer Book by the installing technician. This Answer Book will provide you with information on why Smart Meters are being installed, how you can prepare for Time of Use Pricing (TOU), and energy saving tips.
View the Smart Meters Answer Book now.
You may have other questions on the Smart Meter program for which answers may be found below.
| Answers |
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| 1. What is a smart meter? |
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A smart meter measures electrical energy consumed (kWh) over a specific period of time. Unlike current meters that simply accumulate total kWh consumed, smart meters are able to report how much is used between specific times of the day.
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| 2. Why do we need smart meters? |
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| First, the implementation of smart meters across Ontario has been mandated by the Government of Ontario in its effort to create a ‘culture of conservation’, through the recently passed Green Energy Act.
Secondly, Oakville Hydro can’t stock up on energy the way you can with laundry detergent on special at your local store. Therefore, Oakville Hydro has to pay its suppliers more for electricity during high-demand or peak times, like weekday business hours. Smart meters encourage more usage during off-peak hours, when electricity costs much less, such as evenings, weekends and holidays. Reducing demand during peak times is beneficial to everyone because this helps reduce the strain on Oakville Hydro’s electricity distribution system, helps lower the cost of electricity for the consumer, and helps reduce our environmental footprint.
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| 3. What are the advantages of smart meters? |
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| The detailed consumption information that a smart meter gathers gives you the ability to monitor your electricity usage and manage your costs on a daily basis. Our customers now have a choice of using electrical appliances during times when power costs less, consequently resulting in decreased costs. |
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| .4. When will smart meter billing begin? |
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| The Ontario government’s target is to have smart meters installed in all homes by the fall of 2010. While we await the details of that undertaking to be worked out by our regulator, the Ontario Energy Board (e.g. how we will pay for the replacement meters), Oakville Hydro is proceeding at a steady pace. |
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| 5. I live in a condominium. Can I get a smart meter? |
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| Yes. Converting multi-unit residential buildings from bulk to individually metered units is by far the best proven residential energy conservation measure to date. Our local experience proved that such a conversion typically results in a 25% or better reduction in electricity consumption. However, some condominiums cannot be retrofitted due to the design of the electrical system or space restrictions in the electrical rooms. Oakville Hydro will inspect the electrical facilities to determine if a retrofit is possible. |
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6. Our condominium might be interested in a conversion. How much will it cost?
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Nothing. Assuming that it is technologically and physically possible to retrofit your condominium with smart meters, Oakville Hydro will do all of the work under its Energy Conservation Program.
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| 7. When will I get a smart meter installed on my house? |
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Oakville Hydro has been installing smart meters on all new homes starting in 2004. This is mandatory for all new construction (including condominium units) in Oakville. This takes our community to the forefront of energy conservation initiatives. Support from the Town Council was instrumental to our ability to go ahead with this smart meter initiative. Today we have approximately 4,000 smart meters installed and operational. Due to the complex and untested nature of the new billing process, we are converting customers with a smart meter to “time of use” rates in small increments.
As of October 5, 2009, Oakville Hydro has begun installing smart meters on all residential homes and small businesses. This initiative has been mandated by the Government of Ontario. All residential homes and small businesses will have their own smart meter installed by the fall of 2010. The Time-of-Use rates associated with smart meters will not come into affect until the spring of 2011. Therefore, there will be no immediate change in residential or small commercial billing structures until Time-of-Use rates are implemented. For more information on smart meters or Time-of-Use rates, please visit:
The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) website at:
http://www.ieso.ca/imoweb/siteShared/smart_meters.asp?sid=ic
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) website at:
http://www.oeb.gov.on.ca/OEB/For+Consumers/Your+Energy+Options/Time-of-Use+Pricing+for+Smart+Meters+FAQs
The Smart Meters Ontario website at:
http://www.smartmetersontario.ca/index.cfm?page=home |
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| 8. Will my electricity bill go up? |
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This depends on your consumption. What this means is that the price of electricity per kWh will vary depending on how much you use and when you use it. Currently the Time of Use rates are (rates are subject to change in early 2010):
Off-Peak Period: 4.0¢/kWh
- Winter (November 1 to April 30) and Summer (May 1 to October 31) Weekdays: 10pm to midnight and midnight to 7am
- Winter and Summer Weekends and Holidays: 24 hours (all day)
Mid-Peak Period: 7.2¢/kWh
- Winter Weekdays 11am to 5pm and 8pm to 10pm
- Summer Weekdays: 7am to 11am and 5pm to 10pm
On-Peak Period: 8.8¢/kWh
- Winter Weekdays: 7am to 11am and 5pm to 8pm
- Summer Weekdays: 11am to 5pm
This compares with current pricing of 5.6¢/kWh for the first 1,000kWh and 6.5¢/kWh for the rest during the winter. During the summer the threshold is 600 kWh. Depending how and when you use electricity you may pay more or less or see very little difference. With smart meters, those who try to conserve and shift their usage to off-peak, weekends or holidays will benefit the most. |
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| 9. How will I know how much electricity I am using? |
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| Your bill will change to display your total usage by peak period. In addition, Oakville Hydro will provide a free and secure online service that has all the information you need to help manage your electricity costs. Then you can make informed decisions and see the impact of how and when you use common household appliances. More information about this service will be distributed in future bill inserts and customer communications.
Access your account online now through eCare |
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