Meter Upgrade Project

The phased installation of new network equipment, electric meters and gas modules across the service territories began in the fall of 2022 and continues through 2025.

Empowering a better customer experience with more tools and features — and no added costs.

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)

AMI will allow us to build the foundation to expand on the exceptional service we provide to our customers.

In June 2021, the Kentucky Public Service Commission approved our request to fully deploy Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). The Virginia State Corporation Commission also approved the project in May of 2022 and we are excited about the prospects of bringing our customers more tools and services after meter upgrades are completed in your area.

These meter upgrades are at no additional cost to our customers. The total cost of AMI will be offset by the savings that will occur with reductions in the cost of meter reading, service requests, outage management and other automated functions that will be implemented over time.

When will meter upgrades begin near me?

Check our fully interactive map to see when electric meter upgrades are coming to your area at no additional cost to you — or even do a search by address to see the estimate of when the project will begin near your home or business.

Customer using a tablet to access their Advanced Meter information

Detailed and personalized energy usage data

Once installed, the new advanced meters give you access to a customized online dashboard that provides the tools, resources, and insights to better help you manage your energy usage and take steps to reduce your monthly energy bills. Soon you will be able to:

  • Stay updated on your usage
  • Set and manage energy usage alerts
  • Learn valuable energy-saving tips

A few days after your meter is upgraded, you can register and start using your My Meter dashboard to track and manage your energy use.  Learn more about My Meter’s features and benefits.

Connecting service just got more convenient

With an advanced electric meter, service requests are more convenient with remote service turn-on and turn-off. Customers with advanced electric meters have the extra benefit of removing the burden of waiting for a utility truck to visit your home or business. No worries about locked fences or putting your dogs in the house. Advanced meters allow routine service activities to happen easily and remotely.

FAQs

Select a topic category to get answers to frequently asked questions about advanced meters and the meter upgrade project.

Door-to-door salespeople showed up after my meter upgrade, are they to be trusted?

Scammers may claim to offer you additional services after your meter is upgraded. Beyond access to the My Meter online tool provided by us at no cost to you, there is nothing else you need to sign up for once your meter has been upgraded.

Please remember our employees and contract partners always have authentic ID badges that include the person’s name and a color photo and are branded with the company’s logos. If you’re ever in doubt about someone’s identity, please contact the company directly. Also remember an authorized LG&E, KU or ODP representative or legitimate contractor for us will never demand you provide your personal information or account numbers.

Learn more about how to avoid scammers by visiting our special scam safety information.

When will I receive my meter upgrade?

We are currently deploying advanced meters to our more than 1.3 million customers and will continue through 2025. Check out our fully interactive map above to see when the project will begin near your home or business.

The map is updated weekly, every Monday morning.

How will you notify me before my meter is upgraded?

We’ll send notifications approximately four weeks, two weeks, and 10 days before your meter upgrade, letting you know when we will be in your area and what to expect.

Do I have to be home during my meter upgrade?

For your convenience, there’s no need for you to be present during the installation, but we will need to access your electric and/or gas meter and the area around the meter.

After the meter is installed, our technician will leave a door hanger behind letting you know your meter has been exchanged.

Who will be performing the meter upgrades?

For most customers, trained service technicians working on behalf of LG&E and KU will be performing the meter upgrades. These technicians are with our trusted business partner, Utility Partners of America (UPA). They carry photo identification, and their vehicles are marked as LG&E and KU contractors.
 

Utility Partners of America logo
white pickup truck with company and vendor logos

For certain commercial customers, or customers who require special equipment installations, meter upgrades will be performed by LG&E and KU service technicians.

Will my service be interrupted when the technician exchanges my meter?

For electric customers, the technician will remove the electric meter and replace it with a new advanced meter. There may be a brief disruption of power during the meter exchange.

For gas customers, your gas meter will be updated with a device that allows for remote readings. There should be no interruption in gas service, unless in the rare case that we must change the gas meter.

Is there a cost associated with my upgrade?

AMI will allow us to build the foundation to expand on the exceptional service we provide to our customers. We’re excited about the prospects of bringing you more tools and services.

The total cost of AMI will be offset by the savings that will occur with reductions in the cost of meter reading, service requests, outage management and other automated functions that will be implemented over time.

There is no cost to you for the equipment upgrade, the only fees are associated with opting out of receiving the advanced meter at your address.

Will the upgrade to an advanced meter give LG&E and KU control over how and when a customer uses energy? Will it control their demand?

An advanced meter takes frequent readings of energy usage, but it only measures the electricity used, it does not control it. The customer is in control of how and when they use energy, not the Company.

Advanced electric meters are equipped with service switches to turn service on and off remotely without having to send a technician in a truck to do it manually. This makes it easier than ever to start, stop or move your utility service from one location to another. Another benefit is that customers with advanced electric meters will not be charged a reconnection fee if the remote process is used. Other fees may apply.

Is there a monthly fee for having an advanced meter?

There is no one-time or monthly additional cost to customers for having meters upgraded to an advanced meter during the upgrade project. These meter upgrades are at no additional cost to our customers. The total cost of the project will be offset by the savings that will occur with reductions in the cost of meter reading, service requests, outage management and other automated functions that will be implemented over time.

Customers who choose to not have their meter upgraded – referred to as opt out – may do so. Monthly opt-out fees apply to offset charges associated with the manual processes required to provide service as we’ll be required to continue visiting your address each month to manually read your meter.

How can I see the energy information from my new advanced meter?

Your advanced meter goes to work as soon as it is installed and will begin recording your energy usage information in 15-minute intervals. Within a few days of your meter upgrade, you’ll be able to see your usage information on our customized MyMeter website which you can access by signing into My Account.   

If you don’t have an online account, the registration process is simple and takes only a few minutes. Just be sure to have your account number available. Register your account online.

When you access your account online, you will have access to several benefits that will help you save energy and better manage your monthly energy bills.

For example:

  • You will be able to set up customized energy use alerts for when your consumption exceeds a pre-determined level.
  • You’ll have direct access to your energy use data that will better inform you on how to save energy.
  • We’ll provide tools that will help you better understand your energy use and offer customized ways to save energy.
  • If you’re interested in installing a solar system for your home or business, your advanced meter will help you determine the right size system. Additionally, an advanced meter allows you to participate in our Solar Share Program and support local solar energy.
  • You’ll get access to personalized comparisons of different voluntary rate options that could potentially save you money on your monthly bills based on your energy use.

Is my information protected?

Advanced meters do not collect, store, or transmit personally identifiable customer information – such as names and addresses. All energy usage information is transmitted between advanced meters and your utility through a secure network and is encrypted using U.S. government-approved and recommended standards.

We place the utmost importance on protecting our customers’ safety and security, and we have stringent practices in place to protect the energy usage information of our customers. Please see our privacy policy for more details.

How does an advanced meter transmit energy usage information?

Advanced meters use a relatively weak radio signal, or low-energy radio frequency waves, common in everyday products — like cell phones, cordless phones, and walkie-talkies — to transmit information across distances.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sets RF limits and requires that all radio communicating devices be tested to ensure that they meet federal standards before they are allowed to transmit within the radio spectrum. Advanced meters emit less radio frequency energy than many other commonly used wireless devices which, like these advanced meters, are FCC-approved.

What is an advanced meter?

Unlike your current meter, which is usually read once per month, advanced meters can transmit energy usage information to us at more frequent intervals throughout the day. The meters can send and receive information related to your energy service through a secure communication network. We use the data from your advanced meter to generate bills, to run a more reliable and efficient energy grid, and to deliver a higher level of service to you.

What is Advanced Metering Infrastructure?

We’re glad you asked! Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) incorporates two-way communicating advanced meters which support automated meter reading, faster connection of electric service, and provide information to help us reduce outages and respond more quickly when there is an outage. The AMI network includes advanced meters, routers, collectors, cell towers and the communications technology and software that enables communications between the utility and customers’ meters. AMI is a proven technology that is spread across most of the country.

Can having an advanced meter affect my health?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that no adverse health effects have been demonstrated from exposure to low-level radio frequency energy such as that produced by advanced meters.

Radio frequency signals also weaken significantly as the distance between you and the device increases. The casing of an advanced meter and wall construction materials also decrease the level of RF energy in the vicinity.

Please note that advanced meters transmit RF energy only for short periods each day. In fact, an Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) analysis of 47,000 advanced meters installed in southern California found that 99.5% of the meters were transmitting for approximately 3 minutes or less daily.

What if I don’t want an advanced meter at my address? Are there additional costs?

If you have concerns about upgrading your meter, you may choose to have a non-AMI meter instead. With a non-AMI meter, you will not gain the benefit of any of the advanced meter enabled services and programs designed for advanced meter technology. We’ll be required to continue visiting your address each month to manually read your meter.

If you elect to have a non-AMI meter instead of an advanced meter, you‘ll be required to pay a one-time set up fee and monthly recurring charges associated with the manual processes required to provide your service.

  • LG&E Electric: One-time fee: $35 per meter; monthly recurring: $12 per meter
  • LG&E Gas: One-time fee: $33 per meter; monthly recurring: $5 per meter
  • KU: One-time fee: $39 per meter; monthly recurring: $15 per meter
  • ODP: One-time fee: $33 per meter; monthly recurring: $14 per meter

During this initial deployment, if a customer requests to opt out of receiving a meter upgrade prior to a meter being installed at the customer’s premise, the Company will not charge the one-time fee.

To opt-out, complete the online form and we will contact you about the monthly charges you will incur by opting out.

How will I know I have an advanced electric meter?

An advanced electric meter has an LCD display instead of rotating discs and will have a yellow face plate, as shown in the picture below.

When will my new equipment on my gas module be installed?

Whether you have just a gas account, or you have both an electric AND a gas account with us, the new equipment on your gas meter will be installed after your advanced meter.