As we inch further into 2026, there are going to be some areas of the Buffalo region that will be taking a big step forward on the technological front. For many years, in order to figure out how much to bill you for your electricity use, someone would need to come to your house and physically read your electric meter. Now, sooner or later, that will be a thing of the past as National Grid, the primary electricity provider in Buffalo and parts of Western New York, is getting ready to install smart meters.
This isn’t necessarily a new concept for some folks in Upstate New York, as RGE and NYSEG both started installing smart meters in 2025, but if you pop around the internet, you will find tons of people very concerned about the meters, claiming they drive up electric rates.
When National Grid is done with the installation this year, more than 121,000 smart meters will be installed in houses all over the Buffalo area.
What Is A Smart Meter?
According to the US Department of Energy, a Smart Meter works just like a typical utility meter, except that it also provides two-way communication between you, your home or business, and the utility company. This can help the utility know about blackouts and maintain more reliable electrical service…