Pennsylvania Draft Order Would Adopt Smart Meter Deployment Schedule at FirstEnergy Utilities

A recommended decision from a Pennsylvania ALJ would approve the smart meter deployment plan of the FirstEnergy electric distribution companies.

Under the deployment plan, the ubiquitous deployment would begin in earnest in 2017, with installation of approximately 98.5% of 2.1 million smart meters occurring from 2017 through December 31, 2019. Complete deployment would be completed in 2022.

Prior to 2017, the utilities would install 60,000 meters in Penn Power's service territory in order to address potential "ramp up," functionality and communication infrastructure issues in a contained and controlled environment,

The recommended decision would accept a stipulation among the EDCs and Direct Energy regarding information on deployment progress. Specifically, the FirstEnergy EDCs agreed to identify on a website available to the public, sixty days in advance of installation of smart meters, information regarding the deployment schedule that will not include dates more specific than identification of the Borough, Township, or City where deployment is scheduled "within the next sixty days." Additionally, the FirstEnergy EDCs agreed to update the website to confirm that deployment has been completed

Docket: M-2013-2341990 et. al.