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Smart Meters in Massachusetts
Smart meters are coming to Massachusetts customers starting in 2025.
Beginning mid-year 2025, we’re exchanging all existing electric meters with smart meters to improve service and provide you with the best experience. This will enhance our service, empower you to make informed decisions about your energy use and modernize our electric grid.
It will take approximately three years to install new meters for all of our electric customers, and we will begin in Western Massachusetts.
What is a Smart Meter?
A smart meter is a digital electric meter with wireless communication capabilities that transmits data to a network device, which then provides that data to our information systems.
They provide helpful near real-time data to you, including more detailed information about the energy you use. This information will be available through your online account or our free mobile app and help you better understand and adapt your energy use which can help lower your bill.
A smart meter also provides important data to us, such as if your meter is functioning properly and if not, what may be wrong with it. This will allow us to address potential equipment issues before problems and/or outages occur.
Smart Meter Benefits
Your bill and energy use
You’ll be able to access the data collected by your smart meter through your online account, enabling you to monitor and manage the energy you use. You’ll also see the projected amount of your next bill.
You’ll also be able to sign up to receive additional notifications, such as:
- Enhanced outage alerts – real-time notifications about your outage.
- High usage alerts – if the amount of energy you’re using exceeds a set threshold based on your historical energy usage. For example, if you usually use an average of 600 kWh a month, you could set the alert threshold to be slightly above that average and you would receive a message if you exceed that amount. Using more energy in a month could let you know that you have an appliance that may be malfunctioning.
- High bill alerts – when your bill exceeds an amount threshold that you set during a billing cycle. This notification could help you prepare for a higher-than-normal bill or serve as a reminder to try and conserve energy for the rest of the billing cycle.
Moving and power outages
- If you’re moving in or out of a residence, you won’t have to wait for a line truck to stop or end service on site. Smart meters enable us to start or end service remotely.
- We’ll be automatically notified if your residence or business loses power.
- The data provided by smart meters will help us identify failing electrical equipment, potentially reducing the number of customer outages that occur from equipment failure.
Quick Answers
What is the difference between the meter I have now and a smart meter?
Today’s meters collect data on a monthly basis via an Eversource vehicle driving by and reading meters from the street. Smart meters will transmit data automatically to our internal systems in regular intervals without a vehicle needing to drive by.
Will I be told when I’m going to receive my new meter?
You’ll be notified several times prior to receiving a new smart meter through a variety of channels such as email, mail and text.
Do I have to pay for the smart meter?
This program and its associated costs will be reviewed and adjusted every year through 2028 by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. For an average household that uses 600 kWh per month, the charge will be approximately $1.75 a month starting July 1, 2024. This charge will be included in the Distribution Charge listed on page 2 of your monthly billing statement.
I rent or lease my residence. How will this impact me?
If your electric bill is paid by your landlord, then you won’t be impacted by this meter upgrade. If you’re responsible for paying your electric bill, then you’ll have access to all smart meter benefits.
I am a net metering customer. Will I receive a new smart meter?
Yes. You currently have two meters, a regular meter and a net meter. Your regular meter will be upgraded to a smart meter. Some net meters may need to be upgraded at the same time your regular meter is changed to a smart meter.
What if I don’t want a smart meter? Can I opt out of getting one?
You will be able to opt out of receiving a new smart meter if you’re classified as a Rate R-1 (Residential), R-2 (Residential Assistance), R-3 (Residential Space Heating) and R-4 (Residential Space Heating Assistance) customer.
If you qualify and elect to opt out, we’ll replace your current meter with a non-communicating meter. You’ll be charged a $42 one-time service fee for this exchange and a $34 monthly fee to have your meter read manually every month.
Does a smart meter use Wi-Fi to transmit data from my smart meter?
A smart meter does not rely on Wi-Fi to collect the meter data. It has an embedded radio that enables two-way communication between the meter and our systems. This means the collected data is more secure than information transmitted via Wi-Fi.
Is the information transmitted by a smart meter secure?
Yes. Data sent from a smart meter is sent over a private network and stored on our secure company servers. In addition, smart meters are not used to transmit any customer personal information, such as name and address.
Will you be able to control how much energy I use and when I use it?
While we will be able to stop or start service remotely, smart meters are not used to control how much or when you use energy in your house or business. The information we collect from smart meters is used for billing and outage purposes and to determine if the meter is functioning properly.