Frequently Asked Questions

Smart meters are digital meters that allow for secure and automatic two-way communication. Once fully installed and activated throughout our service areas, the infrastructure and technology will enable customers to access near real-time information about their energy usage, giving them more control and the opportunity to take action more quickly to manage usage costs.

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Smart meters send information automatically and remotely by transmitting relatively low-power radio frequency (RF) signals. These signals are similar to those produced by cell phones and data wireless networks and fall well below the limits set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

In addition to giving customers more control by providing near real-time usage information, smart meters also help to modernize the energy grid and our distribution systems. This helps improve reliability and service restoration when an outage or issue occurs. Smart meters also help our utilities plan for the future by providing precise analysis to help us design pricing plans and service options that match customer needs and energy and water use.

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Once the infrastructure and technology are fully installed and activated, customers will be able to view their energy usage in near real-time through a user-friendly web portal. This service will not be available immediately following the meter installation at a customer residence or business. This future benefit will be communicated to customers once available.

Smart meters allow for secure and automatic two-way communication. This technology will allow Liberty to automatically read your meter each month and, in the future, will provide you with near real-time usage information to help you take action to control your usage and save money. Smart meters also help eliminate the need to estimate meter readings and provide quick and easy service starts and stops when you move.

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Please visit our installation timeline for more information.

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Customers do not need to be present during the meter exchange, but we will need access to their meter. Once the installation is complete, installers will leave behind a door hanger with additional details regarding the work that was conducted. For a period of time after the meter is installed, we will continue to read the meter manually as we transition to the new technology.

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Although installation of the smart meter does not require you to be present, you may schedule an appointment if you prefer to be on-site during installation. To schedule an appointment, please contact our Smart Meter Information Center.

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No. Customers do not have to do anything to prepare for the new meter installation. Customers will be notified by mail approximately four weeks in advance of the installation.

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Please click on the logo, below, to learn more about our contractor, Itron. Installers will drive vehicles with signage identifying them as a Liberty contractor. Installers will also carry identification.

There will be a brief interruption in service, usually lasting just a few minutes, while we replace your current meter with a smart meter.

Your account information and billing cycle will not change.

Your new smart meter will not affect your bill due date.

Smart meters are rigorously tested for accuracy by the manufacturer prior to installation. Liberty also conducts ongoing testing to ensure billing accuracy and to meet regulatory reporting requirements. In addition, smart meters provide remote and automatic readings, helping to eliminate the need to estimate meter readings.

Like any mechanical device, our current manually-read meters can slow down as they age. If this happens, the meter may record less than your actual usage. However, this is rare. Each year, Liberty Utilities conducts tests on meters to check for accuracy to help ensure accurate billing and to meet regulatory requirements. If a customer believes that their meter is not accurate, they can call our Customer Contact Center to request that their meter be tested.

Liberty Utilities remains committed to safeguarding customer privacy.  Smart meters do not transmit personally identifiable information such as names or account numbers. The information that is transmitted is done so over secure networks. 

Advanced security and encryption technology is implemented to protect the information created and transmitted through the smart meters. Our cyber security protocols meet current industry standards and guidelines published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). To guard against unwanted access, our high-security communication network uses multiple layers of protection including passwords, firewalls, data encryption, continuous monitoring, and other security controls. In addition, ongoing testing and third-party audits of our security measures ensure your data is properly protected.

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 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has specified radio frequency safety guidelines. The smart meters we are installing emit a very low level of RF, within the FCC safety guidelines and well below RF levels currently in your home. Items you may use every day, such as microwaves and cell phones, emit higher levels of RF than a smart meter.

Learn more about smart meters and radio frequency: 

• Radio Frequency and Smart Meters – Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative, a nonprofit organization that conducts research to educate consumers on the benefits of the smart grid. 
• FCC policy on human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields – Federal Communications Commission
• Radio Frequency Safety – Federal Communications Commission
• Radio Frequency Exposure Levels from Smart Meters – Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)

Missouri Residential Customers:

For all residential customers who choose to opt out and have their meter manually read, the following fees will apply:

• A $45 per month manual meter-read fee, plus a $10 per month fee for each additional manually read meter at the same address
  
  

For residential customers with an already installed smart meter who request a manually read meter, the following fee will apply in addition to the monthly manual meter-read fee:

• A one-time $150 setup fee per meter (Please note: we do not charge a setup fee to install a smart meter.)

Kansas Residential Customers:

For all residential customers who choose to opt out and have their meter manually read, the following fees will apply:

• A $45 per month manual meter-read fee, plus a $10 per month fee for each additional manually read meter at the same address
  
  

For residential customers with an already installed smart meter who request a manually read meter, the following fee will apply in addition to the monthly manual meter-read fee:

• A one-time $150 setup fee per meter (Please note: we do not charge a setup fee to install a smart meter.)

Oklahoma Residential Customers:

For all residential customers who choose to opt out and have their meter manually read, the following fees will apply:

• A $15 per month manual meter-read fee, plus a $3.33 per month fee for each additional manually read meter at the same address

For residential customers with an already installed smart meter who request a manually read meter, the following fee will apply in addition to the monthly manual meter-read fee:

•  A one-time $150 setup fee per meter (Please note: we do not charge a setup fee to install a smart meter.)