Clallam PUD’s commissioners have agreed to update the agency’s Residential Meter Policy 1304 to now offer digital, non-transmitting meters as an opt-out option for customers who prefer meters that do not wirelessly transmit radio frequency (RF) waves.

The move, agreed upon last month, follows a rising difficulty to obtain analog meters due to decreased inventory of meters and parts, staff report.

According to the PUD’s board meeting minutes, the agency only has 13 unused analog meters available.

The PUD has been updating its utility meters since 2019 to automatic meter infrastructure (AMI), or “smart meters” that can be read wirelessly rather than in person via meter readers.

Staff reported in March that following customers’ requests, the PUD started offering two opt out options, a digital meter and an analog meter that do not wirelessly transmit RF waves.

Going forward, customers who have opted out of an AMI meter will be given a digital meter that does not transmit wirelessly if their analog meter fails, staff said.

The only functional difference is that the digital meter has a digital sensor and display, they report.

So far the PUD has converted 22,000 of 33,500 meters to an AMI meter, staff report, and 136 customers have opted out of the conversion with 78 of those customers paying $8 a month to cover costs for staff to read, calibrate and maintain the meters.

Meter readers will continue to perform bi-monthly readings for all opt-out customers.

With the analog to digital meter change, the opt-out fee remains the same, staff said.

Chris Earl, PUD’s meter foreman, said via email an AMI meter costs the district about $130, and he didn’t have a cost estimate for a digital non-transmitting meter because he’s been reusing the agency’s newest models instead of trying to purchase them.

According to the PUD’s Frequently Asked Questions on its website, “the advanced meters record customer energy usage data just like your old meter but the readings are sent to the PUD via RF waves, similar to communication by cell phones and Wi-Fi but at a significantly lower energy level.”

Staff state that “based on average reads the total transmitting period over a full year will average about 12 minutes.”

“Standing in front of an advanced meter for an entire year is roughly the same exposure to RF as a 6-minute 4G cell phone call or wirelessly streaming anything,” they write.

An AMI meter transmits both ways and according to the FAQ page reduce staff’s time to access customer’s properties to read meters, increases customers’ billing accuracy, and provides the opportunity for issues to possibly be addressed/diagnosed remotely.

According to the PUD, AMI meters “only transmit total power consumed, instantaneous voltage, device numeric identification, and disconnect position (on/off).”

By switching to AMI meters, staff report the agency has reduced costs by more than $300,000 a year.

The PUD’s website states that staff recognize customers’ concerns of RF waves, hence an option to opt out for a non-transmitting meter at clallampud.net/advanced-meter-opt-out/.

For opt-out customers with multiple electric meters, or with both a PUD electric and water meter, the opt-out fee shall be assessed per service address, provided that the same account holder is named on all accounts.

Customers with questions about the updated meter policy or the opt-out program can call the PUD’s customer service line at 360-452-9771.