FortisBC is holding an information session in Abbotsford on Wednesday, Nov. 20 to discuss its proposal to upgrade its gas meters to new advanced meters.
The drop-in session runs from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Sandman Hotel at 32720 Simon Ave.
The project would upgrade the meters of more than one million natural gas customers between 2022 and 2016.
Douglas Stout, FortisBC vice-president of market development and external relations, said the new meters will provide a “stronger, more-reliable system” to deliver natural gas to homes and businesses.
“Upgrading to advance meters would modernize our gas infrastructure. The new meters would allow us to better monitor and manage our system. For example, FortisBC could remotely detect and respond to gas leaks,” Stout said in a press release.
He said the gas-meter technology currently used in B.C. has not changed in more than 100 years.
The new meters are smaller, have no moving parts and are expected to last longer than existing meters, Stout said.
They use sound waves to measure gas use and send the information to FortisBC through a wireless network, meaning FortisBC would no longer need to read individual meters manually.
Stout said the new meters would offer benefits for customers such as access to daily updates on gas use and the convenience of not having their gas service shut off during future meter exchanges.
FortisBC will file an application for B.C. Utilities Commission approval in 2020. If approved, installation is expected to start in 2022.
Visit fortisbc.com/advancedgasmeters for more information or to register for the information session.
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