Richmond Power & Light expects to complete its transition to smart meters next year.
General Manager Tony Foster on June 2 updated RP&L board members, who are Richmond Common Council members, about the conversion project that began in 2017. During the day May 27, 16,485 advanced metering infrastructure meters had been installed. That left — at that point — 5,187 traditional meters to replace.
The utility has 1,486 smart meters in stock and expects delivery of 1,156 more in June and another delivery of 2,312 in December, leaving about 400 to order in 2026. Foster said that number consistently changes, such as rising by 100 when the new $30 million Revitalize Richmond project creating 100 downtown apartments was recently announced.
The smart meters and utility communicate with real-time information. That enables RP&L staff to perform many functions remotely, and customers with the SmartHub app are able to see information, such as their energy usage and outage maps.
After the meter conversion project ends, Foster said the utility will focus on converting streetlights to LED fixtures. Foster said that conversion is a necessity because of difficulty finding — and higher cost for — non-LED bulbs.
“We know we need to start a comprehensive conversion process or we’re going to be out of luck,” said Foster, noting that some replacements have already occurred when necessary.
The conversion would start with main corridors and progress through the rest of the city. Cost of the average LED fixture is about $240, Foster said.
ECA rate
Foster presented the board with the third-quarter energy cost adjustment that enables the utility to adapt for how much it’s paying for power from the Indiana Municipal Power Agency.
Although the average for all RP&L’s rates is a decrease of $0.000080 per kilowatt hour, residential customers will see an increase of $0.000296. The third-quarter ECA will be $0.011375, which is still just a bit more than a penny per kilowatt hour.
I-70 work
The Indiana Department of Transportation’s Revive I-70 project that will expand and refurbish Interstate 70 through Wayne County has required utility work.
Parallax needed to clip and reroute fiber optic lines and RP&L has needed to relocate power lines in preparation for INDOT’s work. Foster said INDOT reimburses the utility for its work.
Truck bid
Board members awarded Wetzel Ford the bid for a 2025 Class 3, extended-cab truck with a utility body.
Wetzel bid $69,492 after offering $7,500 in trade for a 2012 Ford F250 pickup with about 120,000 miles.
Community Auto Group of Bloomington had bid $62,489.25, but it required an order by May 9, which was not possible.
A version of this article appeared in the June 11 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.