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Manx Utilities to introduce smart meters

Thu, 14 Jun 2018

Manx Utilities will replace 40,000 manually read electricity metres with smart meters.

Chairman of the Authority Dr Alex Allinson confirmed Manx Utilities has been monitoring developments in smart metering elsewhere, and believes the time is right to bring it in on the Isle of Man.

The scheme won't directly cost consumers, but there will be a £10.8m capital investment programme, while the total cost of the project is expected to be £18.5m over the next 10 years.

The current metres, including key metres, used by the Island's electricity supplier are no longer made or support by manufacturers, so the board has sanctioned a four-year project to replace the current system.

The new technology will allow those that use pre-payment metres to top up using smart phones.

It's also hoped smart meters will reduce carbon emissions and ready the Island's electricity system for greater use of renewable energy sources.

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