Smart Meter Technology

In April 2016, QEC completed their Smart Grid project to develop long-term sustainable energy efficiency in the territory’s capital city, Iqaluit.

Smart Grid, or Advanced Metering Infrastructure, is a modern electrical communication network that allows real time measurement of customer energy consumption, monitors energy flows and adjusts to changes in energy supply and demand.

Iqaluit accounts for 30 percent of our customer base, and this technology will support QEC’s future plan to manage demand for electricity during peak periods which will help QEC to operate more efficiently.

The core function of smart meters is the same as the old analog meters: to measure and record your electricity use. However, what makes Smart Meters so "smart" is that in the future, homeowners or business owners with smart meters will be able to track their consumption of electricity down to 15 minute intervals helping you as consumers, to make more informed power usage choices.

The old meters require a meter reader on-site to take monthly readings, while smart meters can be read automatically and remotely.

In addition, smart meters will automatically notify QEC about power outages and meter tampering which will allow QEC to respond to problems and restore power more efficiently.