NYSEG outlines smart‑meter benefits, rate‑case timeline and protections for critical‑need customers

NYSEG representatives told Columbia County emergency managers on an LEPC call that the company’s pending rate case filed in May will likely take about 11 months to resolve and will influence which infrastructure projects proceed in the county. The utility said smart‑meter installations in Columbia County are nearly complete and that meters improve outage detection and provide early warnings, such as high‑voltage or temperature alerts at the meter box.

The company emphasized why customers who depend on life‑sustaining equipment must enroll as critical customers. A NYSEG representative said, “Whenever a customer signs up as a critical customer or a life sustaining equipment customer, they’re automatically flagged on our system,” and that flag cannot be removed without documentation or approval through the Public Service Commission. The representative added that the utility and emergency managers coordinate outreach when a critical customer appears unreachable during an outage.

Why it matters: smart meters shorten outage detection time and provide new diagnostics that can prevent fires; policies to flag critical customers affect how utilities and first responders prioritize checks and notifications during outages. Emergency managers asked whether the smart‑meter system can automatically identify high‑risk households; NYSEG said customers must self‑register to be flagged but that the utility will notify emergency managers when a critical customer’s meter shows an outage.

Supporting details: NYSEG said smart meters can report voltage anomalies and rising meter temperatures, prompting field inspection. The utility also described a voluntary demand‑response (curtailment) program that relies on connected thermostats (for example, Nest devices) and pays commercial participants; residential enrollment is now possible through compatible devices. NYSEG stated supply charges reflect hourly market prices and delivery rates are set by the Public Service Commission, so customers may see bill fluctuations that reflect market supply costs rather than delivery charges.

Next steps and context: NYSEG will continue trimming and reclamation work on circuits across several counties, and it will finalize which county projects to propose once the rate case advances. Emergency managers said they will continue coordinating lists of critical customers and outreach during major events.