Loveland Water and Power (LWP) is currently installing advanced meters for all new electric services and any necessary meter exchanges/upgrades; starting in January 2024, we will proactively exchange all non-advanced meters with advanced meters as the new standard (see: AMI deployment). For an additional fee, and depending on eligibility, our customers may choose a non-communicating digital meter instead. Here’s how they compare:

Advanced meters

Advanced Meters connect to homes and businesses to collect and transmit customer energy use information. The meters provide secure automated wireless communication to the City.

• Advanced meters record and store customer energy-use information throughout the day.
• Customer energy-use data will be sent to the City using a 900MHz radio frequency (RF) wireless network. The meters transmit data for a maximum of 90 seconds per day.
• Once data is received by the City, the energy-use data will be matched with customer accounts for billing and other customer service activities, similar to traditional metering practices.

Non-communicating digital meters

Non-communicating digital meters are available for residential customers who choose and are eligible to opt-out of the AMI metering program described above.

• This meter does not have an antenna or wireless communication chip. There is no radio frequency (RF) transmission from these meters. As a result, it does not receive or transmit customer energy-use data, but it will measure, record, and store the customer’s energy-use data for manual download and billing purposes.
• This meter will have digital displays and a label to clearly designate it as an opt-out meter.
• These meters will continue to require manual reads – meaning, LWP staff (or licensed contractors) must physically visit your property to read the meter on a monthly basis.
• Opt-out fees will apply
  • A one-time service, administration, and installation fee (meter exchange fee) of $115 during business hours and $170 after business hours. These fees are established in our Rates, Charges, and Fees (detailed under “Appointment or Special Trip to Change the meter”) and will be updated annually.
  • For manual read customers, a monthly fee for each billing cycle will begin after the City’s mass deployment of AMI meters is complete (estimated to be sometime in mid-2025). This fee also includes the cost of maintaining the non-communicating digital meter. The costs also include inventory and meter testing.  This fee has not been formally established in our Rates, Charges, and Fees; however, it is anticipated that this fee will be around $15-$20 per month.

Comparing the meters

As shown by the following table, there are additional costs associated with opting out and fewer benefits with a non-communicating digital meter. Charges cover overhead costs, ongoing maintenance, and manual meter reading related to the non-communicating digital meter and equipment:

In order to opt out of AMI, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be a single-family residential customer (Rate code E01) who lives in a detached single-family home. If your property is in a meter bank with two or more meters, then you’re unable to qualify.
• Your electric meter housing must be attached to your dwelling or structure. This means your meter needs to attached to your house.
• You must have no documented instances of known unauthorized use, theft, or fraud related to utility services – including threats of violence toward City employees or its agents.
• You must be responsible for providing and maintaining unrestricted access to LWP staff for meter installation, maintenance, and monthly meter reading. This includes maintaining four feet of clearance in front of the meter base. Failure to do so may result in termination of opt-out participation.
• You must be the primary account holder on your utility account; only the account holder may apply for the opt-out program.
• You must not have been disconnected for non-payment within the last 12 months. If at any time you are disconnected for non-payment, opt-out status will be revoked.
• You must not have been identified as diverting service within the last 12 months. If you are caught diverting service, opt-out status will be revoked.

Customers who already have an advanced meter and who meet the eligibility criteria above may also submit an opt out application.

You can submit an application by:

• Submitting an online application: To opt out of AMI, fill out and submit an online application here. Opting out is subject to eligibility; fees apply.

Note:

• If your application is approved, the following opt-out fees will be applied to your utility account:
  • If your opt out application is submitted before your electric meter is exchanged, no one-time fees will be charged for opting out. If your opt out application is submitted after your electric meter is exchanged, a one-time service, administration, and installation fee (meter exchange fee) of $115 during business hours and $170 after business hours. These fees are established in our Rates, Charges, and Fees (detailed under “Appointment or Special Trip to Change the meter”) and will be updated annually.
  • Opting out will make you a "manual read customer," since we'll have to continue visiting your property to read your electric meter each month. All manual read customers will be assessed a monthly fee for each billing cycle beginning after the City’s mass deployment of AMI meters is complete (estimated to be sometime in mid-2025). This fee includes the cost of manually reading your meter, maintaining the non-communicating digital meter, and inventory and meter testing. This fee has not yet been formally established in our Rates, Charges, and Fees; we anticipate this fee will be around $18-$22 per month.
• After the City receives your application you'll receive an email confirming your application has been received. If no email address is provided, a letter will be mailed.
• After your application is processed, you will receive an approval or denial letter in the mail and via email. The City will process your application in a timely manner. However, where more information is needed to process the application, the approval process could be delayed.