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Advanced Metering Infrastructure

The City of New Westminster is currently upgrading its electrical metering equipment, which is nearing end-of-life, with a more capable metering system known as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). All of the City's meters must be replaced in order to comply with Measurement Canada accuracy requirements. 


CUSTOMER BENEFITS

Advanced meters are one part of a collective system upgrade. Once the new system is functioning as a whole, advanced meters will support a range of features and capabilities. 

Benefits to you include:

Having greater insights into your energy usage will help you reduce energy waste and save money

Outage response times will be faster and more targeted

Enhanced safety features will help protect your home and community

The utility will have improved operation efficiency and will reduce costs over time

A modernized grid will support innovative technologies such as electric vehicles
      and solar panels
Reduction of the City's carbon emissions

  • About the project

    The City's existing metering equipment is aging, becoming obsolete, and costly to maintain. Our infrastructure needs to be upgraded to meet the demands of our growing community. AMI will be better able to support the dynamic needs of a modern grid and will accommodate new and sustainable technologies that are part of New Westminster's climate emergency response. 

    The contract for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure project has been awarded to KTI Utility Services for the supply and installation of the new meters, and to Harris Computer Systems for the IT infrastructure. 

    Installation began in 2024 and is anticipated to be completed in 2025. More details and specific dates of when the meter at your property will be replaced will be provided in advance of the new meter being installed.  

  • Privacy & Safety

    SAFETY

    Your privacy and safety are important.

    Advanced meters communicate using safe, secure low-level radio signals. The signals from the meters are much lower than common household devices such as:

    • Wi-Fi routers
    • Cell phones
    • Microwave ovens
    • Baby monitors

    ​Advanced meters transmit for less than one minute per day. 

    All electrical meters must pass strict safety and accuracy measures established by federal authorities such as Health Canada and Measurement Canada. The meters we have selected are compliant with all appropriate standards set by Health Canada.

    Exposure to radiofrequency energy below Health Canada's established limits is safe. The limits are set far below the threshold for all known established adverse health effects.1 There are no health risks from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) from advanced meters. Your exposure to radiofrequency EMF from advanced meters is very low. 2 This is because:

    • Advanced meters emit relatively low power signals
    • There is distance between your body and advanced meters
    • Advanced meters transmit data in short bursts, not continuously
    • When advanced meters are not transmitting a signal, they do not emit radiofrequency EMF

     

    PRIVACY

    We place a high priority on customer privacy, and we must protect your personal information by law. All personal information collected is managed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Protection of Privacy Act, as it has always been. Our vendor, and our internal teams, will all work together to ensure your information is kept private.

     

    Additional Resources:

    Government of Canada (sources cited)

    1. Radiofrequency Energy and Safety
    2. Safety of smart meters

     

    Health Canada


    World Health Organization

  • Contact Info

    For more information about the advanced metering infrastructure project, please direct your inquiries accordingly:

    General AMI Information
    Contact New Westminster Electric Utility: 
    E: 
    P: 604-515-3750
    Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

    Utility Bill Information
    Contact City of New Westminster Finance department:
    E:
    P: 604-527-4555
    Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

    Meter Exchange or Installation Inquiries
    Contact KTI Utility Services:
    P: 1-833-543-8807
    Monday-Friday, 5:00 am to 5:00 pm PST

  • Door Hangers

    When KTI visits your home to install the meter, they will leave a door hanger. If the meter installation was successful, you will receive a green door hanger. If they encountered issues that prevented them for installing the meter, you will receive a red door hanger with instructions for next steps.

    Please note, only single-family homes and businesses will receive a door hanger. If you live in an apartment or condo, signage will be placed in common areas to inform residents that the new meters have been successfully installed.

      

  • Report a power outage: 604-239-6100
    General inquiries: 604-515-3750
    Billing and payments: 604-527-4555