U.S. Congressman Rush Holt (D-12) watches Rick Fallon, chief lineman for the South River electric utility crew, install a remote meter on a home on Charles Street Jan. 26. The remote meters are being installed in 6,000 borough homes. PHOTO COURTESY OF ZACH GOLDBERG SOUTH RIVER — The successful installation of an automated remote electric meter at a borough home on Sunset Street is a milestone, according to borough officials, who said the town is the first in the state to implement the system.
“We did a test run at the home and we had no problems,” said George Lyons, the borough’s director of public works. Over the next several weeks, the meters will be installed at the 6,000 homes in town.
Lyons, along with Rick Fallon, chief lineman of the borough’s electric utility crew, borough Business Administrator Andrew Salerno, U.S. Congressman Rush Holt (D-12) and Borough Council President John Krenzel, stood in front of a Charles Street residence last week to demonstrate the installation of an automated remote electric meter.
“Within a matter of minutes, the meter can be replaced,” Lyons said. “We expect to have two guys go out and install 200 to 300 of the meters each day.”
Through the “Reverse 911” system, Lyons said, a message has been sent to all residents informing them that the utility crew will be changing the meters.
“We will knock on your door,” said Lyons. “Residences do not necessarily have to be home, but it’s a good idea not to have computers on when we change the meter.”
Holt was on hand to present a check for $500,000, federal funding that he pushed to appropriate for the borough’s automated remote meter program, which is estimated to cost $1.5 million. The Borough Council approved a bond to fund remote electric and water meters in 2006.
Borough officials have been seeking for years to switch from the old method of reading and estimating utility bills to a system that allows for precise readings to be done remotely. It will also allow homeowners to be aware of how they use power and when it is cheaper to use it, officials said. Additionally, the borough may reduce electric costs by saving money on its bulk energy purchases.
South River is one of 10 New Jersey towns that owns and operates its own electric utility as part of the cooperative Public Power Association.
Salerno, who noted that using the new meter program is mandatory for residents, said it has not been determined specifically where the $500,000 in federal funds will be used, but that the money will go into the program. Krenzel said he was pleased Congress allocated funds to help the town receive cutting-edge technology.
“It puts South River ahead of the curve,” Krenzel said.