HK Electric completes massive smart meter rollout, paving way for smarter grid

HK Electric has announced the full operational launch of its smart meter communication infrastructure, marking the near-total completion of a five-year project to digitize nearly all electricity meters across Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island.

The milestone was celebrated with a ceremony on Friday morning Hing Tung Estate in Sai Wan Ho, where the final batch of smart meters was installed.

The utility company’s Managing Director, Francis Cheng Cho-ying, was joined at the event by Executive Council member and lawmaker Stanley Ng Chau-pei, as well as the Chairman of the HK Electric Customer Liaison Group, Chan Chit-kwai.

With the installation of the smart meter numbered “582888” at Hing Hong House, the project to equip over 580,000 customers with new digital meters has largely been concluded.

Cheng said the new infrastructure would not only help customers manage their electricity use more effectively but also allow HK Electric to gain a clearer picture of the grid’s status through encrypted data transmitted back to its systems.

This is expected to enhance both operational efficiency and grid management, he said.

He praised the engineering and project teams for overcoming challenges, including those posed by the pandemic, to ensure the timely completion of the initiative by the end of 2025, highlighting the team’s professionalism and execution capabilities.

Ng, meanwhile, said the widespread adoption of smart meters would improve grid management and empower residents with more transparent energy consumption information, helping them save on energy costs.

He noted that this technological upgrade supports a greener, smarter way of living.

Chan added that customers can now check their electricity data anytime and anywhere, enabling them to develop more suitable usage strategies, better manage expenses, improve energy efficiency, and promote sustainable living.

Since the project began in 2020, HK Electric has been replacing old meters free of charge in phases.

The new smart meters automatically transmit encrypted usage data at regular intervals—a method far more convenient and cost-effective than traditional manual meter reading.

Customers can access their daily or half-hourly electricity usage data through the HK Electric “Account-On-Line” service or the company’s mobile app. The system also includes alert functions that allow users to set consumption notifications to save energy and reduce waste. 

Furthermore, as electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly common, connecting EV charging facilities to smart meters will help owners better understand the electricity consumption of their charging setups.

Looking ahead, HK Electric said it plans to explore the use of artificial intelligence to analyze the vast amount of data collected by the smart meter network. Particular focus will be placed on understanding the impact of distributed solar photovoltaic systems and EV charging facilities on the grid.

This analysis is expected to improve capacity forecasting, enhance grid planning, and strengthen overall management and strategic development, it said.