Advanced Meter FAQs

National Metering & Technical Services, LLC, the PUD’s certified and approved contractor, will arrive at your home or business with clothing, badging and vehicles marked as a PUD Contractor.  

You don't need to be home during the installation. When the installer arrives at your home your business, we’ll knock on the door to alert you we’re installing your new meter. If we miss you, we’ll leave a door hanger once the work is complete.

The installation may result in a short power outage of just a few minutes. 

Please visit our Installation webpage for more detail.

We won’t know exactly what day your meter will be installed. Please check out the INSTALLATION SCHDULE to see when we’ll be in your area. If you need to be on site at the time of your installation, please visit our Installation webpage to schedule an appointment.

Please see the INSTALLATION SCHEDULE to see when and where the installers are working.

Installers are currently working Mon. through Thur. - 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

If you need to confirm if the installer was at your home or business, please call us at 509-661-4325 Option #2, Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please visit our Installation webpage for more detail.

No. The digital meters are designed not to interfere with home electronics. Please contact customeroutreach@chelanpud.org if you have specific concerns.

Yes, residential customers can opt-out when requirements are met. Please visit our Opt-Out webpage for more detail. You can complete the Opt-Out Application online. Questions? customerhelp@chelanpud.org.

You will be able to keep your old meter until personnel are able to test your meter in the field, likely to occur in early 2024. If personnel are not able to test your meter in the field or your meter test results show inaccuracy, your meter will be exchanged with a non-advanced meter that has been tested for accuracy.

Advanced metering are a key building block for a more efficient electric system using the new digital advanced meters. Some of the benefits customers can expect in the coming years include faster outage notification, more accurate billing, access to future tools and technology, and potential conservation savings. Visit our Benefits webpage for more detail.

Yes - Chelan PUD is committed to keeping your personal information safe and secure. With advanced meters, cybersecurity best practices, such as isolation and encryption of customer data are used. Only meter data is transmitted wirelessly, not any customer information. 
Chelan PUD's Privacy Policy
Customer Rights

Yes, but not right away. Advanced metering lays the foundation for expanded services in the future such as better information on customers’ potential conservation savings. See our Benefits webpage to learn more.

No, the PUD will not know any specifics about what you’re using power inside your home for, nor will we control your energy use. 

Chelan PUD will use encrypted data to do things like:

• Respond to outages and restore your power faster
• Ensure accurate billing and reduce estimated bills
• Determine where system maintenance is needed to improve reliability and plan for future growth
• When future technology is available, customers will be able to access their own energy use data to make decisions about conservation and lower their bills

When it comes to your power, Chelan PUD will continue to follow established policies, regulations, and procedures with advanced metering infrastructure.

For residential customers who request that their power be disconnected and/or reconnected, advanced meters will allow the PUD to do so remotely in many cases (some will still need a field visit). This means the PUD may no longer need to schedule a qualified field worker to visit your home to disconnect and/or reconnect your service. 

Know we’re here to ensure the safety of field workers and the public.  When there is a situation, like a house or wildland fire, severe weather, or a car pole accident that requires the power to turned off for safety – the PUD is here to help.  Depending on the situation, to maintain safety and increase reliability, the PUD may disconnect power at the meter, at the transformer, the substation, or another location.

We’ve heard some questions and concerns about radio frequency (RF), electro-magnetic fields (EMF), and the potential of these energy fields to impact your health. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is a safe and proven technology widely used across the US. More than half the utilities in the country are already using this technology. Advanced meters use low-energy RF waves to send energy-use information to the PUD through a secure wireless network.

Please visit our Overview and Health Information webpages for more information.

 

Once your new advanced meter is installed, there will no longer be the need for meter readers to check your meter every month for billing purposes. Until your advanced meter is installed, Chelan PUD's meter readers will continue to read analog meters every month.