BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – In just a matter of weeks, many National Grid customers will start getting new smart meters installed at their homes or businesses.
Officials with the utility company are announcing the change before it happens so customers know what to expect. The two-year smart meter rollout will take place across Western New York.
Some may recall what happened over the summer with NYSEG customers , who were blindsided by their smart meter installation. National Grid says it’s trying to avoid confusion and get out ahead of the rollout, which starts in January.
The limited rollout will impact 4,100 customers. Smart meters will start to be installed in Southern Erie County and the Southern Tier in places like Hamburg, Jamestown and Mayville.
Customers in these areas, in the next two weeks, will receive a letter from National Grid on when they can expect their smart meter to be installed.
“We should accomplish the installations within a period of about two to 10 minutes,” said Ken Kujawa, National Grid’s regional director. “So, it’s very quick, it shouldn’t have an impact on a customer in terms of them losing power, during a period of time when the weather’s bad. If we do see that the weather’s going to be bad we always have the flexibility to postpone for a day or a couple.”