Advanced Metering - pnmprod
What You Need to Know
Over the next three years, we're upgrading every home and business in our service area with a new SmartMeter. It's part of our work to build a smarter gridone that delivers more accurate, responsive, and transparent energy services for everyone.
Here's what that means.
- Every residential and business customer will receive a new SmartMeter (digital meter that replaces the old analog meter) as part of this upgrade.
- Installations will take place over the next three years, beginning in 2026.
- You don't need to do anythingwe'll handle the entire process.
- There is no cost to you for the new SmartMeter or installation.
- We'll contact you at least three months in advance when it's your turn to get your new SmartMeter.
What's Happening Out There Now
You may notice new, small devices being installed on poles in or around your neighborhood. It's all part of a four-year Grid Modernization project bringing smart technology to our power system.
You may not see every change, but you'll benefit from the upgrade.
The equipment being added now will form a secure communication network that connects with SmartMeters, digital meters that automatically send us energy-use data.
Why It Matters
More transparency and predictability.
Future tools will use the data from your SmartMeter to help you see and manage your energy use, giving you greater insight and predictability for your monthly bill.
Faster service.
We will be able to detect and respond to outages faster, often before you even have time to report them.
Better bill accuracy.
Your SmartMeter will record energy use in real timeno more estimated bills.
Stronger grid.
Modern equipment helps keep energy usage predictable, stable, and affordable for everyone.
More proactivity.
SmartMeters provide us with up-to-date information to identify small issues before they become major problemsso we can provide more consistent service without you having to do anything.
What You'll See
You may see small, pole-mounted devices appear in your area. They're the first step toward a connected, modern grid. They are simply data devices that can only connect to a SmartMeter and relay anonymous electricity data back to us.
These include:
Communication modules that let SmartMeters securely send us anonymous data
Sensors that monitor power line health and detect outages
Access points that connect the local network to our central systems
Secure and Compliant
Safety and privacy are our top priority. That's why every part of this network has been tested and approved by federal safety agencies.
Safe
Each device uses radio signals thousands of times weaker than a smartphone and transmits data only for grid operation. Our safety standards are so high we are compliant with the National Electrical Code (NEC), the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) rules, plus our own internal standards.
Private
SmartMeters send encrypted energy data, never personal information. They cannot see how you use energy inside your home. The new network devices and SmartMeters all meet a combination of state, federal, and technological standards including governing bodies such as the FTC (federal trade commission) and the New Mexico Consumer Information Privacy Act plus our own internal data protection protocols.
Got questions? We've got straight answers.
They're communication tools that help connect your future SmartMeter to our grid network.
No. They use radio signals far weaker than everyday WiFi or mobile devices.
No. The installation and new equipment come at no additional upfront cost to you. The rider on your bill helps support SmartMeters and other improvements to the electrical grid that benefit all customers.
No, nothing at all. We take care of the entire process and will notify you when it's your turn to get your SmartMeter (that may be up to the end of 2028).
Have more questions?
Learn how grid modernization works, what to expect next, and how we are keeping your energy service safe, private, and predictable.
See what's happening in your neighborhood.
Discover the small but powerful devices being added on poles across our service territorythe first step toward a stronger, smarter grid.
