PSEG Gets Green Light From NJ To Roll Out $700M Smart Meter Plan

NEWARK, NJ — The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has cleared the way for PSE&G to roll out the largest installation of smart meter technology in state history.

On Thursday, the board gave PSE&G approval to invest nearly $700 million over the next four years to provide its 2.3 million electric customers with “smart meters.”

The move will give PSE&G near real-time meter reading capabilities, and will virtually eliminate estimated utility bills, speed up responses to power outages, and allow customers to make “more informed decisions” about their energy usage, spokespeople said.

PSE&G said smart meters will help it reduce truck dispatches, ultimately leading to less carbon dioxide emissions.

“PSE&G is committed to working with its union partners and all of its employees on the transition to smart meters, which will occur over several years,” the company stated in a news release.

“This is a vital step toward achieving a smarter and cleaner energy future for New Jersey,” PSE&G President Dave Daly said.

“Smart meters provide the real-time communications necessary to better serve our customers and will provide electric customers with valuable information about their energy consumption,” Daly continued.

“Smart meters and the supporting communications network can help expedite electric service restorations when severe weather strikes, help customers increase their home energy savings, and improve service quality,” Daly added.

However, some PSE&G customers have alleged that the data can be inaccurate, and have complained about billing issues. Other people wary of smart meters have worried about privacy issues related to the new technology.

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