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For Immediate Release: 11/16/17
John B. Rhodes, Chair
Contact: Jon Sorensen | Jon.Sorensen@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
17088/17-M-0178
November 16, 2017
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Orange and Rockland Installing Smart Meters to Save Customers Money, Energy through Digital TechnologyPSC Approves O&R Meter Upgrade that Will Benefit Ratepayers by Nearly $16 Million |
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ALBANY — The Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved Orange and Rockland’s plan to install advanced smart meters for all of its electric and gas customers – money-saving technology that will help ratepayers reduce their energy usage and improve the reliability of the O&R system as a whole. The new meters for Rockland, Orange and parts of Sullivan counties will produce a net benefit of nearly $16 million, according to current estimates.
“This new technology will not only save customers money, they can also provide substantial environmental benefits by reducing overall energy demand and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.” said Commissioner Chair John B. Rhodes. “With these advanced meters, the utility will also have information and data needed to better manage their systems, making them more resilient and efficient.”
The new Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system will have greater functionality than the system originally proposed by Orange and Rockland two years ago. The new AMI system is similar to the meters planned by Consolidated Edison to provide customers with precise load information to better manage and curtail energy usage.
AMI meter installations began in Rockland County in June and now more than 23,000 meters have been installed so far. In all, Orange and Rockland will replace approximately 116,500 electric and 92,000 gas meters in Rockland County, along with 113,000 electric and 42,500 gas meters in Orange and Sullivan counties starting in the third quarter of 2018.
While the overall investment is capped at $98.5 million, Orange and Rockland is estimating a net benefit of $15.6 million. According to staff of the Public Service department, savings and benefits may be even greater when benefits from time-varying pricing and energy monitoring are included.
To help customers take advantage of these smart meters, Orange and Rockland has an outreach and education campaign that includes four components:
Today’s order also includes a framework for the utility to develop alternatives ways to meet increased load than the traditional electric transmission and distribution infrastructure, such as the building of new substations and installation of high voltage cables. These “non-wire alternatives” meet energy demand at a reduced cost and can be environmentally cleaner than traditional power systems.
Non-wire alternatives are an important goal of Reforming the Energy Vision (REV), Governor Cuomo’s strategy to build a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers.
Today’s decisions may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Numbers 17-M-0178. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
About Reforming the Energy Vision
Reforming the Energy Vision is Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s strategy to lead on climate change and grow New York’s economy. REV is building a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers by stimulating investment in clean technologies like solar, wind, and energy efficiency and generating 50 percent of the state’s electricity needs from renewable energy by 2030. Already, REV has driven nearly 800 percent growth in the statewide solar market, enabled over 105,000 low-income households to permanently cut their energy bills with energy efficiency, and created thousands of jobs in manufacturing, engineering, and other clean tech sectors. REV is ensuring New York State reduces statewide greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and achieves the internationally-recognized target of reducing emissions 80 percent by 2050. To learn more about REV, including the Governor’s $5 billion investment in clean energy technology and innovation, please visit www.ny.gov/REV4NY and follow us at @Rev4NY.
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