01 Jan
This month marks a full year since IREA began upgrading its metering and communications systems with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI).
Through mid-December of 2019, IREA and our installation vendor, Utility Sales & Service, installed more than 60,000 AMI meters in Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Parker, Roxborough, Centennial and the surrounding areas. This year our installers will move to the eastern, western and southern portions of our service territory, including Strasburg, Bennett, Byers, Conifer and Woodland Park. We plan to have all new meters installed by the end of 2020.
We already see benefits with the AMI system. The new meters facilitate real-time troubleshooting of outages by more quickly determining the locations of service interruptions. The new meters also save time and reduce expenses and emissions because they can be read remotely. IREA personnel have made about 9,000 fewer field visits since AMI was started. We estimate AMI will allow us to drive about 400,000 fewer miles per year after all meters are replaced.
After all meters are replaced we also will have better meter data that will allow us to consider additional cost-savings programs, pre-payment plans and a wider variety of rates. AMI also will help us identify power theft.
You will receive a mailed postcard ahead of planned installation at your home or business. You do not need to be present for your meter replacement. However, if you have a circumstance that requires you to be present, please refer to the phone number on the mailed postcard to schedule an appointment. We will try to schedule your new meter installation at a time that is convenient for you. The meter replacement typically does not require a service interruption. If one is required it is usually only a few seconds.
We will continue to update our customers about this project through this publication, via our social media channels – @IREAColorado on Twitter, IntermountainREA on Facebook – and here on our website.