PORT ANGELES – Clallam County PUD will later this year begin replacing electrical meters with modern, wireless meters.

The changes are part of the utility’s “Advanced Metering Infrastructure”. The PUD has already been using electronic meters which allow “drive-by” meter reading in most places.

But PUD assistant manager John Purvis says the new meters will use wi-fi or send signals back through the power lines to report customer usage. Purvis says it will also allow the PUD to better deal with outages…

The PUD is offering an opt out option for those not wanting the wi-fi meters. Purvis says it costs $30  to opt out of the electronic and/or wi-fi meters.

Customers can get forms to opt out on the PUD’s website.

Purvis says the cost of the meters has dropped nearly in half since the utility first considered changing about ten years ago.

The change will reduce the need for meter readers, but Purvis say the long transition will allow for those employees to move into other jobs at the utility if they choose. The change out will start this year and take about four years to complete. The PUD already been budgeted for the new meters through its  drive-by meter reading program.