Preparation work is expected to get underway in Didsbury and Olds for FortisAlberta’s deployment of new wireless electricity meters on homes and businesses throughout the towns.
Fortis plans to replace its current metering system that uses its power lines to transmit data and communication signals with technology that uses radio frequency waves or cellular communication to automatically transmit data from meters.
Details of the rollout were contained in a report given to the Town of Didsbury’s council last month and also reported on the Town of Olds website.
The company notified the municipalities that it will be implementing Next Generation Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) starting with hardware on various poles and streetlights in the towns.
The installation of gateways, routers and streetlight controllers on poles and streetlights in both Olds and Didsbury is estimated to commence Aug. 4 through to Sept. 1.
Olds' information on the rollout says Fortis will also replace a series of home and business meters in select locations to establish the AMI network.
“Following installation, Fortis will begin mass installation of AMI electricity meters on homes and business in town, which is anticipated to commence in the fall of 2025 through to 2029,” the Town of Didsbury's report said.
According to Fortis, once installed, data including measurement of energy usage required by electricity retailers, is transmitted through wireless signals.
The company lists a number of benefits of the new technology including fewer visits to homes and businesses to change or read meters, improved electricity grid reliability, faster detection of electricity tampering or theft and ability to accommodate future programs that may help people manage their electricity usage.
FortisAlberta’s AMI meters operate at levels far below the limits for radio frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) outlined by Health Canada, the company notes, adding exposure to radio frequency EMF from automated meters is very low because:
• AMI meters emit relatively low power signals;
• There is distance between your body and automated meters;
• AMI meters transmit data in very short bursts, not continuously; and
• When AMI meters are not transmitting a signal, they do not emit radio frequency emissions.
Town of Olds staff have recently been barred from some Olds properties to upgrade water meters as some homeowners said they have health concerns about the new technology.
