New Regulations Concerning Smart Meters

As part of its conservation strategy, the Ontario provincial government has established targets for the installation of 800,000 smart meters by December 31, 2007 and installation of smart meters for all Ontario customers by December 31, 2010. Smart meters record hourly data for every customer and transfer that data to the distributor and a centralized database that will be made available to customers and other interested parties. The aim of the initiative is to provide customers with the incentive and the ability to control their energy costs by moving usage to off-peak periods and reducing energy use during peak periods.

The framework for this initiative was set out in the Energy Conservation Leadership Act, 2006, which came into force earlier this year. The legislation allows for the creation of a "Smart Metering Entity" with the power to administer and deliver any part of the initiative and to engage in competitive procurement activities. Although details of the Smart Metering