Smart Meter Installation

1. How many is Horizon installing now?
2. What does the installation of a smart meter involve?
3. How long will the meter installation take?
4. What are the hours for installation?
5. Will you be booking appointments for installations?
6. Is it possible to have an installation after hours or on weekends?
7. Do I have to be there for the smart meter installation?
8. Will my power be interrupted during the installation of my smart meter?
9. How will I know if my meter's been replaced with a smart meter?
10. Can you explain what I am seeing on the display of my new smart meter?
11. What happens after a smart meter is installed?

How many Smart Meters is Horizon installing now?
In 2008, Horizon Utilities will be installing an additional 80,000 smart meters to bring our total to 140,000 smart meters installed. All homes and small businesses in Ontario will have a smart meter by 2010.

What does the installation of a smart meter involve?
Customers with an outside meter do not need to be home. The installation only takes a few minutes. The new smart meter fits into the standard meter base already attached to the customer's home.

A short 1-2 minute power interruption will occur during the meter exchange. As with any power interruption, customers may need to reset clocks and timers on all equipment.

	Our installers knock on the door when they arrive to install a smart meter to advise you that there will be a short power interruption.
	A digital photo is taken of the old meter to record the final read data.
	The security tag is removed from the old meter.
	A special safety device is used to remove the meter.
	The new meter.
	The new meter is installed and a security tag is reattached.
	The new smart meter is operational almost immediately.

How long will the meter installation take?
The installation generally takes only a few minutes to complete.

What are the hours for installation?
The hours for installation are from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Will you be booking appointments for installations?
No, we will not be booking appointments, as we do not need to enter your home or business. If we need to enter your home or business to install the meter, and if you are not at home, we will contact you in the future when we are back in your community. This makes the process more efficient and helps to minimize costs to all customers.

Is it possible to have an installation after 8:00 p.m. or on weekends?
Unfortunately, no, but the installation really is a short procedure that will be done with little or no inconvenience to you.

Do I have to be there for the smart meter installation?
No, you don't have to be there for the installation to proceed and it takes only a few minutes to complete.

Will my power be interrupted during the installation of my smart meter?
Yes. The installation of your smart meter will require a very short power interruption (usually less than a minute). We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you and you will need to reset digital clocks and other electronic devices.

How will I know if my meter's been replaced with a smart meter?
We will leave a card at your door letting you know that we have completed the installation. Also, the meter will look a little different as it has a digital display and no dials.

Can you explain what I am seeing on the display of my new smart meter?
Reading a smart meter is easy, if you know what to look for. The meter actually cycles through three different display modes. Each display lasts about six seconds. See the diagram below for an explanation of each display.

What happens after a smart meter is installed?
Although installed smart meters will begin recording hourly energy usage almost immediately, for the time-being, there will be no change to the way in which customers will be billed for their electricity consumption.

When the Ontario government decides to implement time-of-use rates, all customers who have a smart meter installed and who are not purchasing power through an energy retailer, will be billed according to the new rates for the off-peak, mid-peak and on-peak time periods. There is no word at the moment when this change will happen but customers with installed smart meters will be notified prior to it going into effect.