March 4, 2022

As part of our plan to modernize the electric distribution system, JCP&L will begin installing smart meters on customers’ homes and businesses in 2023.

The plan was approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and includes installation of more than 1.1 million smart meters over a 36-month period. Approximately one-third of the smart meters are expected to be installed each year, with the majority of JCP&L customers receiving a smart meter by 2026.

“Smart meters help ensure accurate readings and will provide customers with information they need to better manage their electricity use. In the future, it will also help us restore power more quickly, especially in storm situations,” said Jim Fakult, JCP&L president. “We’ve had tremendous success with this technology in Ohio and Pennsylvania and we are excited to bring it to our customers in New Jersey.”

Throughout our entire footprint, our utilities have installed more than 2.7 million smart meters since 2014 – with implementation efforts nearly complete in Pennsylvania and currently underway in Ohio.

How Will Smart Meters Benefit Customers?

Smart meters allow for two-way communication and automated meter reading. This technology:

• helps to ensure accurate billing each month by virtually eliminating estimated readings.
• enables customers to track energy consumption to better manage their electricity costs and reduce energy usage.
• will include the ability in the future to detect and locate outages more quickly and provide more accurate and timely storm restoration information.

How Will Meter Readers Be Affected?

Once smart meters are installed, the billing process – including meter reading – will become more automated.

“We are working closely with local union leadership to discuss options available for our permanent meter readers,” said Brandon Gibellino, director, Operations. “We intend to explore training and other assistance to help with transitioning to other job opportunities within JCP&L.”

This approach has been very successful during previous smart meter implementations. In Pennsylvania, for example, more than 100 meter reading employees moved into other positions as part of that state’s smart meter transition.