Smart Meters
Do I have a Smart Meter?
In Thunder Bay, all residential homes and small businesses have had Smart Meters installed.
What is so Smart about Smart Meters?
Smart Meters communicate your electricity usage wirelessly. This eliminates the need to have a meter reader come to your home.
Smart Meters provide electricity usage on an hourly basis. This allows you to monitor your own homes electricity consumption more closely. It also allows the province to implement changes in the electricity pricing in the future.
Are Smart Meters Safe?
See our FAQs on Radio Frequency and Smart Meters.
Why is this Meter Exchange taking place?
The Ontario Government had a goal to install a smart meter in every Ontario home and small business by 2010. This will allow them to implement Time of Use Pricing. The Province's plan for Smart Meters and Time of Use Pricing is explained at the provincial information site.
Is usage information secure and will it remain confidential?
Yes. Smart Meters will send usage information wirelessly.
Ontario’s electricity distribution companies are required, by law, to ensure that the smart meters and communication networks that are put into place are equipped with security features to prevent unauthorized access. We must also comply with federal laws regarding the privacy, protection and disclosure of personal information. Any data that is sent to the central data repository will be provided in such a way as to prevent identification of an individual customer.
Will a smart meter be installed for those currently with, or moving to, a retailer?
Yes, smart meters will be installed in all residential and small business locations. Rates will be determined by the terms and conditions of the retailer contract that a customer chooses to sign. Customers will need to find out the impact of future time-of-use rates from their retailer.
When will Time of Use pricing start?
All customers on the Regulated Price Plan were transitioned to Time of Use pricing as of December 9, 2011.
How Will my Home be affected by Future Time of Use Prices?
Check out the ieso interactive site to see what your appliance use will cost during different time periods.
Will residents see lower electricity bills?
With the coming time-of-use rates, residents will see the results of their conservation efforts and save money if they can shift their heaviest use to off-peak hours. A significant difference between Thunder Bay and Toronto area electricity usage is that:
- Toronto peak electricity demand takes place on hot summer afternoons when air conditioners are running at full capacity. This coincides with the highest rate in the Time-of-Use charts.
- Thunder Bay peak electricity demand takes place on cold winter nights when electrical heat is running at full capacity. This coincides with the lowest rate in the Time-of-Use charts.
Learn how you can better manage your electricity use by attending one of our Library Seminars
This page last updated 2012-02-06.
