Rhode Island Energy, the state’s largest utility, is well underway on their $153 million program to install approximately 540,000 smart electricity meters around the state.
These advanced meters will use a radio signal to send usage data in near-real time to the company, enabling it to better manage how electricity is delivered to its customers and help integrate new supplies from renewable generators.
The project represents a big step forward for the utility, and it could also lead to changes in how Rhode Islanders use electricity.
Here’s what customers need to know about the meters:
Rhode Island Energy is set to replace existing electric meters with smart meters made by Swiss company Landis+Gyr.
When will the smart electric meters be installed, and can you opt out?
The smart meters are currently being installed across the state. Rhode Island Energy started installing the meters in March 2025 in Westerly and expects to finish by the end of summer 2026. The company has finished installations in Washington County and is now working through Aquidneck Island and the Sakonnet Peninsula.
Customers can opt out but will pay an additional monthly charge for doing so.
Why is Rhode Island Energy installing smart meters now?
The upgrade is being done now because 60% of the meters currently in use, a mixture of electromechanical meters and solid-state meters, are reaching the end of their 20-year design life and need to be replaced. Replacing them with a single technology will allow for more uniform collection of data, according to Rhode Island Energy.
Why are the new smart meters considered necessary?
Information from the current meters is collected only once a month, meaning that Rhode Island Energy must rely on past information, future projections and models to manage the grid. The new meters will transmit data every 15 minutes, meaning the company will be able to understand in near-real time where electricity is coming from and where it’s needed.
The new meters will also have the capability to send out “last-gasp” alerts when the power is cut off, so the company won’t have to rely on customers calling in to report outages.
Rhode Island Energy plans to install new smart meters, a process that is expected to last into 2026.
Will customers have to pay more for smart electric meters?
The Public Utilities Commission capped the cost of the program at $153 million. Rhode Island Energy plans to recover costs incrementally over time.
According to previous estimates, at the beginning of the program, the estimated monthly bill impact for a typical customer who uses 500 kilowatt hours of electricity is expected to be 7 cents. As the installation process ramps up, that cost will grow but will stay below $4 a month, according to the company.
The program is expected to have net cost benefits to the state. While Rhode Island Energy estimates the benefits to total $729 million over 20 years, the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers puts the number at $266 million.
The benefits would come from savings from faster outage notifications; fewer field investigations and reduced staff levels; avoided energy costs; climate and public health benefits realized through lowered greenhouse gas emissions; and, eventually, time-variable electric rates.
Wait, what are time-variable rates?
These are rates that change based on the time of day, dipping down when usage is low, such as the early-morning hours, and edging up when demand climbs, say around dinner time when people are home from work.
They’re considered an important tool in making customers more aware of the actual costs of power and changing their usage habits. Time-variable rates could, for example, convince someone to put their clothes dryer on late at night, which could save them money and also benefit the utility by easing pressure on the system at times when demand is higher.
Rhode Island Energy says it can’t set up a time-variable rate structure while the current meters are in use because they can’t collect the granular data necessary for such a proposal. It’s unclear when the company will make a proposal. For now, it’s only saying that a filing will come after installation of the smart meters.
Will Rhode Island Energy have to come inside your home to install the new meter?
Only about 14% of meters in Rhode Island are located inside a building. While replacing those devices will require a technician to come inside, for all others, the work will be conducted outside. Customers will receive notice of the timing and have the opportunity to schedule the exchange.
Installing the new meter will take 15 minutes, during which power will briefly be interrupted. A video summarizing the installation process in Pennsylvania can be found at pplelectric.com/newmeters.
Will customers have access to more data once the new meters are installed?
Yes, customers will also be able to access data on their usage in close to real time. It could allow them to pinpoint activities or appliances that drive up usage and make adjustments.
The meters will also be able to be paired with mobile or computer applications to manage usage and with smart home systems such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
Next year, customers will even be able to download an app that lets them see the electricity usage of each of their appliances. It can identify so-called energy vampires that keep drawing power even when they’re turned off, or help people decide if they need to upgrade to more efficient devices.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Smart meters are coming to RI Energy customers. Here’s what you need to know.
