Smart Meters

Typically it can take a few days for the smart meter to connect to the network. Once registered, you should see your usage data in your My Account portal. In some instances, it could take up to 30 days to see your data as the meter registers and as we continue to build out the network in your service area. 

Visit Smart Meter Communications to see and download copies of customer communications in English, Spanish and Chinese.

Yes. Our teams will come to your property to install your new meter regardless of your account status. Learn more about all the energy savings programs available to you.

No. If you decide you do not want a new smart meter installed, you can choose to have a conventional, or “non-communicating,” new meter installed instead. Since this meter will not transmit any data automatically, your meter will need to be read manually by a utility representative. You must fill out an opt-out request form here. Please also review the costs associated with a non-communicating meter in this table of benefits and features.

Like any aging appliance, your utility meter will need to be replaced soon. Regardless of whether you get a new smart meter, or if you choose to opt-out, you will receive a new meter.  If you opt-out after your smart meter is already installed, you will be assessed a change-out fee. If you opt-out before receiving your smart meter, and your existing meter is replaced with a new non-communicating meter, you will not be charged a change-out fee, however, because a tech has to read your new non-communicating meter, there is a monthly meter reading fee associated.

▶ See fees.

If you have a smart meter installed, your energy usage information will be collected in real-time and automatically transmitted through a secure, wireless telecommunications connection to National Grid and does not require a fee.

If you opt-out, your account will be charged fees even if you send in your own meter reading. The fees are $11.64 for an electric meter or a gas module and $17.71 for both (dual fuel customers). We are required by the NY Public Service Commission to go to your home to check the meter/equipment in order to verify readings every other month therefore, the opt-out fees are applied to cover that service. Rather than bill opt-out fees every other month, we have taken the annual fees and divided them up into monthly increments.

Our fees, approved by the Public Service Commission, account for the additional time to read and record your usage data. There is a fee charged to read an electric meter ($11.64) and a fee charged to read a gas module ($11.64).  However, dual fuel customers (those that have both gas and electric service) receive a slightly reduced fee ($17.71 instead of $23.28) for manually reading both meters at the same location. If you still have questions or concerns about smart meters, please review our meter safety page at ngrid.com/metersafety to learn more.

There will be no direct charge, at the time of installation. National Grid is funding the project during the preparation phase, which includes back office work such as network communications and cyber security development. Meter installation is estimated to be rolled out over the next four years and customers have begun to pay for the upgrades through an increased rate, as included in the Company’s 2020 rate case.

Yes. Smart meters have been in operation in the United States since 2006. As of 2021, U.S. electric utilities had about 111 million smart meter installations, equal to about 69% of total electric meters installations [Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration]. Multiple audits by independent consultants for Public Utilities Commissions have shown these meters to be highly accurate and dependable.

Our field area network (FAN) is a mesh architecture which provides reliable, wireless, two-way communication. The various communication components (often referred to as nodes) communicate with other nodes in the network to transmit data. These interconnected nodes include electric and gas meters as well as network gear known as mesh repeaters and gateways. The repeaters help the data travel from node to node throughout the mesh, while the gateways collect data from repeaters and meters and then forward it over a cellular network to the National Grid datacenter. The network maintains data integrity by breaking long distances into a series of shorter hops. Intermediate nodes not only extend coverage but also cooperatively make routing decisions based their knowledge of the network. The result is a self-adjusting mesh network that is highly reliable, scalable, and accessible with often no single point of failure.

Yes. Your smart meter technology does not utilize your Wifi or internet connection to transmit data to National Grid. You only need internet service if you want to monitor your energy usage online through MyAccount.

The low-level radio frequency (RF) technologies used in wireless smart meters produce RF at a fraction of the level found in commonly used household items, including cell phones, microwaves, wireless internet, and laptop computers. For more information about FCC guidelines regarding RF exposure, visit http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety/. And visit our smart meter safety page for more information.

If your meter is accessible and located on the outside of your home, usually residents do not need to be at home for installation.

All older, removed meters will be tested; any that are no longer found to be accurate (and deemed at end of useful functional life) will be scrapped or recycled.  Any meters removed that are tested and are deemed accurate will be used for our inventory, or sold to a third party to be reused.

No. National Grid will be reassigning and/or reallocating this part of our work force for other important duties.

No. Since you are the account holder, your landlord does not need to sign off on your meter replacement.

National Grid has partnered with Utility Partners of America (UPA) who are considered leaders in the installation of this technology.  The two companies will work together to install all new devices.

Yes. If a call is made to our customer service team, and it’s recognized that the customer doesn’t speak English, the agent will get an agent on the line who can speak with the customer. If a field technician arrives at the home of a customer who doesn’t speak English, the technician will direct the customer to call into the customer service line.

No action needs to be taken. However, we will need to temporarily interrupt your electric service in order to complete the meter exchange.  The down time is typically less than 10 minutes and would have impacts that are no different than a typical, short-lived power outage.  If you have a home alarm, typically there is enough time on the alarm to allow for the meter exchange. However, in rare instances, the power outage could trigger the alarm.

Yes. Since we have to temporarily interrupt your electric service in order to complete the meter exchange (typically, for less than 10 minutes), it's likely the generator will turn on. Some homeowners like to turn it off before we install the new meter, but during times when customers are not home or don't answer the door, the generator will turn on temporarily. 

Whether you have just a gas account with National Grid, or you have both an electric AND a gas account with us, your smart gas module will be installed at a later time. Currently, we’re focusing on installing electric smart meters.

National Grid is deploying close to 2.4 million smart electric meters and gas modules over several years. There are many different reasons why your meter may not have been installed, even if others around you have. Some of these reasons may include different installer assignments, meter location and/or configurations, and connection optimization. Therefore, we may need to temporarily skip some customers in our deployment efforts and circle back at a later date. When we are approaching your smart meter installation timeframe, you should receive a text, email, or phone call notification. Please make sure your contact information is up to date in the My Account portal so we know how to best reach you. If you’re a gas customer, your gas module will be installed at a later time.

National Grid is required by the Home Energy Fair Practices Act (HEFPA) to make an attempt to collect your past due bill amount in person before service can be disconnected. We will attempt to resolve your account in person before your service is disconnected for nonpayment. If we are unable to speak with you at the door, or if an in-person attempt to resolve the account is not successful, service termination can be done remotely.

Typically, it can take a few days for the smart meter to connect to the network. Once registered, you should see your usage data in your My Account portal. In some instances, meter registration could be delayed up to 30 days as we continue to build out the network in your service area. Because of that, we may need to estimate your bill during this transition period. In these cases, the estimated usage will be replaced by actual usage as soon as the meter connectivity is restored.

Some customers may experience instances where the smart meter is unable to connect. There are a few reasons why this may be happening. Some of those reasons may be, lack of a strong cell connection or technological challenges due to distance to the network device. Our team is working on solutions to address these instances, which will take some time as we build out the broader network. We may install a new, non-communicating meter which would be read manually on a bimonthly basis. You will not be charged a manual meter reading fee. The fee only applies to customers that intentionally opt out of the smart meter installation.

Not necessarily. While smart meters provide accurate and up-to-date billing over 99% of the time, there are some instances where we may need to estimate your bill such as extreme weather, temporary connection issues, or software updates. In these cases, the estimated usage will be replaced by actual usage as soon as the meter connectivity is restored.

There are a few reasons why your bill amount may have increased since your smart meter was installed: 

• Also, with a smart meter, your bill will not be estimated (with some rare exceptions). If you hadn't provided regular readings previously, then your bill may have been underestimated, causing it to increase with your new meter.
• Lastly, your bill may increase due to increased delivery rates and/or increased use due to seasonal highs/lows.

To see what energy you’ve used per day, month, or even in 15-minute increments for the previous 24 hours, you can log into your account on the MyAccount Portal. 

During your smart meter installation, your panels will turn off and then turn back on automatically once the installation is complete. Your electrical service will be interrupted for less than 10 minutes.

Your new smart meter sends your usage data directly to us without a technician needing to come to your property to read it manually. Visit ngrid.com/smartmeter to learn more about the benefits of smart meters.

No. If you decide to install solar energy panels at your home after your smart meter is installed, you will not need a meter exchange or re-programming. However, we will need to update your account to net-metered billing instead of electric rate billing. This will be done as part of the connection process.

No. Your bill will remain exactly the same as with a traditional meter.