Bryan Texas Utilities will start swapping out its electric meters next week, beginning a five-year program to replace about 50,000 of the devices across its service area. The city-owned utility said crews plan to start on Monday, Nov. 2, if the weather cooperates.
BTU, a City of Bryan utility, lists a customer base of over 71,000 spread across Bryan, parts of College Station, other areas of Brazos County and sections of Robertson and Burleson counties.
Why the meters are being replaced
The utility began installing so-called smart meters in 2010 and 2011, and they report usage electronically so workers do not have to read each meter in person every month. BTU said many of those units are now about 15 years old and nearing the end of their expected life.
"We'd much rather replace them on our own timeline, methodically and carefully, as opposed to addressing issues retroactively," Doug Lyles, the utility's general manager, said in the announcement.
BTU said it bought the replacement meters in bulk and will use its own meter technicians rather than outside contractors, choices it described as a way to hold down costs. Lyles said the approach lets the utility do the work "without passing unnecessary costs on to the people we serve." The announcement did not list a total project cost or any new customer fee.
