Monitoring devices to be removed from some DPL natural gas meters

Monitoring devices installed on the meters of thousands of Delmarva Power natural gas customers are being removed as the utility seeks to have them recertified by the vendor. 

Delmarva began removing the communications devices this week after learning that they did not meet a specification that was part of the purchase agreement with Silver Spring Network.  The company later informed DPL that a recertification was needed due to a change in the manufacturing process.

The communications devices, which automatically generate information about how natural gas equipment is functioning, were installed on about 21,000 natural gas meters.  Delmarva has about 123,000 natural gas customers, all in New Castle County.

The utility says the removal process is a matter of “contract compliance and quality control.”  Silver Spring Networks has informed DPL that the equipment is operating correctly and there have been no product failures or incidents that caused any safety concerns. 

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Delmarva Power says installation of the devices will resume once they are recertified.  Customers will not be charged for the removal or replacement of the equipment.  Although the devices had been installed, they had not been activated and meters continue to be read manually.

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