No Meters Installed at Abandoned Homes

Hydro-Québec responds to an article by Nicolas Lachance titled “$17,000 worth of useless meters”

Hydro-Québec would like to set the record straight in response to an article by Nicolas Lachance in the Journal de Montréal and Journal de Québec. The author states that next-generation meters were installed at some 40 abandoned homes belonging to the Department of National Defense, in Sainte-Foy. This is untrue.

In February 2013, the Department of National Defense asked Hydro-Québec to close 43 accounts, which Hydro-Québec did. Contrary to the journalist’s assertion, no next-generation meters were installed at any of these 43 homes for which accounts have been closed.

In the same sector, there are 77 active accounts for which electricity consumption is recorded and bills issued. Next-generation meters were installed at 44 of these residences. The 33 other homes have indoor meters and our practice is to replace these meters later.

Cost-effective installations

The installation of next-generation meters is cost-effective and justified from an economic point of view, even when a building’s power is to be cut a few months later. First of all, installing new meters is an efficient procedure that takes only a few minutes. Second, since next-generation allow remote meter-reading, costs related to manual reading are avoided.

In addition, all installed meters are the property of Hydro-Québec. If a building has to be demolished, the meters are recovered and reused elsewhere.

We anticipate recurrent savings of $81 million as of the end of the technology rollout. These savings will create downward pressure on rates.

A necessary project

Replacing meters is not a choice, but a necessity. Almost half of Hydro-Québec’s meters are over 25 years old and must be replaced before they have outlived their useful lives. Electromechanical meters, with a spinning disc and several dials, haven’t been manufactured in North America since 2010. Measurement Canada imposes strict rules on companies to guarantee the precision of the measurement systems they use. Hydro-Québec is therefore required to install meters that comply with those standards.

Information:

Nathalie Vachon
Affaires publiques et médias
Hydro-Québec
514 289-5005 / 1 844 289-5005