Customers of Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro are unaffected by the recent order to replace Sensus 3.2 remote disconnect electric meters in Ontario. There are no meters of this type deployed in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Concerns with the iConA Generation 3.2 remote disconnect meters manufactured by Sensus have heightened since recent meter installations resulted in fires in Saskatchewan and certain US cities. Large meter replacement programs were required in these jurisdictions. In Ontario the meters were tested by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) and deemed susceptible to arcing within the components which leads to a fire hazard. Approximately 5,400 of these meters have been deployed across Ontario, representing 0.1% of the total meters in the province. Those in Ontario who have an affected meter will have it replaced prior to March 31, 2015 by their local electricity distribution company.
The smart meters installed through-out NOTL are not remote disconnect meters but are manufactured by Sensus. These were also tested by the ESA but are not a safety hazard as they have a different component design so are not susceptible to arcing.