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Board of Water and Light defends smart meters, explains opt‑in to Michigan Public Act 95 and expanded bill‑assistance pool
Summary
Utility staff told council the smart‑meter rollout reduces estimated reads, supports outage detection and allows remote disconnects; the utility described opting into PA 95 in 2023 and said the change allowed access to state and federal assistance funds, substantially increasing the pool available to help customers avoid shutoffs.
Utility staff updated the City Committee of the Whole Feb. 10 on the Board of Water and Light’s smart-meter rollout, customer benefits and the utility’s decision to opt into Michigan Public Act 95 to expand assistance for customers facing shutoffs.
A utility representative described the smart‑meter technology and customer benefits: “A smart meter…talks to the Board of Water and Light 4 times a day for a total of 90 seconds,” the presenter said, adding that the devices allow customers and staff to detect unusual usage quickly and largely eliminate estimated reads. The representative said the utility installed about 100,000 electric meters and 57,000 water meters, and that fewer than 200…
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