It’s time to upgrade our natural gas meters

October 15, 2019 by Deborah Alden

A lot has changed since the early 1960s. Back then modern technology in most homes consisted of a record player, a rotary-dial telephone attached to the kitchen wall, an AM radio and a black and white television.

Technology has come a long way since then, and in the process has both enriched our lives and made them easier. But the gas meter technology we currently use in B.C. hasn’t fundamentally changed in more than 100 years. It still requires someone to manually read individual meters.

We no longer make calls from a phone attached to a wall or climb onto our roof to improve our TV reception. We think its time to update our gas meter technology too.

Benefits of advanced gas meters

We’re exploring a number of ways to modernize our natural gas system for our more than one million customers across B.C. One of the ways we’re proposing to do this is by upgrading our existing gas meters with new advanced meters.

Advanced meters use sound waves to measure gas use and would send the information to FortisBC through a wireless network, meaning FortisBC would no longer need to enter customers’ properties regularly to read meters. They’re smaller, have no moving parts and are expected to last longer than existing meters.

They also offer customers additional benefits including access to daily updates on gas use and the convenience of not having gas service shut off during future meter exchanges.

Information sessions

Before we file an application with our regulator, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), we’ll be engaging with communities. One way we’ll do this is by holding information sessions across the province throughout October and November.

The feedback we receive will help us prepare our application. If our application is approved by the BCUC, we anticipate replacing the meters between 2022 and 2026.

Learn more about our project and find an information session near you. Can’t make it to an information session? You can still talk to us. Call 1-833-592-7937 or email [email protected].

 

https://www.fortisbc.com/news-events/stories-and-news-from-fortisbc/stories-news-from-fortisbc/2019/10/15/it-s-time-to-upgrade-our-natural-gas-meters


 

Introducing Sonix IQ™ Ultrasonic Gas Meter


Advanced gas meters

FortisBC is working to build a more reliable natural gas system for our more than one million customers across B.C. That’s why we’re preparing to apply to our regulator, the British Columbia Utilities Commission, to upgrade our natural gas meters as part of the Advanced Gas Meters project.

Overview

Upgrading to advanced gas meters will modernize our gas infrastructure. The new meters will allow us to measure customer gas use over a wireless network. This will allow us to better monitor and manage our system, for example we will be able to remotely detect and respond to gas leaks.

It will also eliminate the need for us to enter customers’ property regularly to read meters.

https://www.fortisbc.com/about-us/projects-planning/natural-gas-projects-planning/advanced-gas-meters

 

Upcoming information sessions

We’re hosting information sessions across the province in October and November as part of our community engagement.

 

Prince George
Date: October 15
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Ramada Plaza, 444 George Street

Fort Nelson
Date: October 16
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Northern Rockies Regional Recreation Centre, 5500 Alaska Highway

Kelowna
Date: October 22
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort, 1310 Water Street

Vernon
Date: October 23
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Prestige Hotel Vernon. 4411 32 Street

Kamloops
Date: October 24
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Coast Kamloops Hotel & Conference Centre, 1250 Rogers Way

Cranbrook
Date: October 28
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort, 209 Van Horne Street South

Castlegar
Date: October 29
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Sandman Hotel Castlegar, 1944 Columbia Avenue

Oliver
Date: October 30
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Oliver Community Centre, 6359 Park Drive

Courtenay
Date: November 4
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Best Western – The Westerly Hotel, 1590 Cliffe Avenue

Victoria
Date: November 5
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Cedar Hill Golf Course, 1400 Derby Road

Burnaby
Date: November 13
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Executive Suites Hotel & Conference Centre Burnaby, 4201 Lougheed Highway

Abbotsford
Date: November 20
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Sandman Hotel & Suites, 32720 Simon Avenue