Kentucky commission approves Duke Energy plan to deploy smart meters

The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) recently approved a request by Duke Energy Kentucky to deploy new advanced meters that can be read remotely across its service territory.

Under the agreement reached with the Kentucky Office of Attorney General, customers who do not want a smart meter may opt out and continue using a manually read meter for a $25 monthly fee. The opt-out provision does not apply to gas-only customers.

The new meters will replace analog meters as well as smart meters that were deployed in recent years
as part of a pilot project. The older smart meters transferred information through signals sent on power lines, while the new meters use radio transmitters.

Electric customers will receive a smart meter, while natural gas customers will receive an Automated Meter Reading (AMR) meter that will transmit usage data only when prompted by a meter-reading device. Combination electric and natural gas customers will receive a smart meter and a module for their natural gas meter that will transfer data to the advanced electric meter.

Under the settlement reached with the Kentucky Office of Attorney General, Duke Energy Kentucky will not seek to reflect the costs and benefits of the smart meters in its rates until its net filing for an adjustment to base rates. The company expects to file for an adjustment to electric rates before the end of 2019.