Eversource Celebrates First Smart Meter Installation in Springfield
Current Events
From left: state Rep. Brian Ashe, Itron Vice President Jim Fisher, Basketball Hall of Fame Vice President of Marketing Paul Dionne, Eversource Vice President of Customer Experience and Energy Strategy Penni Conner, and Eversource Director of Metering and Smart Meter Operations Luis Pizano stand in front of the newly installed smart meter at the Hall of Fame.
Eversource and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame recently commemorated a milestone in Massachusetts’ ongoing energy transition with the ceremonial installation of a smart electric meter.
The event on Aug. 7 marked the symbolic kickoff of Eversource’s work to install smart meters at homes and businesses across the state — a project that officially launched in late July in Western Mass. The company is also preparing for the next phase of its smart meter rollout in Eastern Mass., where crews are installing network devices to support the transition.
“Smart meters are another valuable tool in the toolbox that will help our customers better manage their energy use and costs, especially during peak seasons when heating and cooling drive higher consumption,” said Penni Conner, executive vice president of Customer Experience and Energy Strategy at Eversource. “Even small changes can make a meaningful difference on your energy bill, and this smart technology will give our customers the information they need to identify opportunities to save.”
As a key part of Eversource’s grid modernization strategy, smart meters enable two-way communication between the meter and Eversource’s systems, allowing for faster outage detection, remote service activation, and more accurate billing — all of which, according to the company, contribute to improved reliability and a smarter energy future.
“Upgrading to smart meters is like replacing an old flip phone with a smartphone,” said Jared Lawrence, Eversource’s senior vice president of Customer Operations, Digital Strategy, and chief customer officer. “In addition to empowering our customers with near real-time insights into their energy use — including how and when they use power — smart meters will significantly improve service for our customers by enabling our team to proactively address power outages before they occur and to deliver enhanced, real-time outage alerts.”
The ceremonial installation featured remarks from Eversource and Hall of Fame leadership and a live demonstration of the smart meter installation.
“Smart meters are another valuable tool in the toolbox that will help our customers better manage their energy use and costs, especially during peak seasons when heating and cooling drive higher consumption.”
“We’re delighted to support Eversource’s efforts to bring cutting-edge technology to our region,” said Paul Dionne, vice president of Marketing at the Hall of Fame. “As a landmark destination in Springfield, we’re honored to be part of this milestone and to help lead the way in embracing smart energy solutions and a more sustainable future for our communities.”
After the Tipoff
The ceremonial installation at the Hall of Fame marked the official start of a multi-year initiative to deliver advanced meter technology to more than 1.5 million electric customers across the state.
“We’re really excited about the smart meter initiative from Eversource,” said Ed Garibian, CEO of Springfield-based tech company LLumin. “I can now get better insights into my energy usage and lower my costs, and if there is an outage, the length of that outage can be reduced. That’s a huge benefit to all of us.”
Meanwhile, Jim Fisher, vice president at Itron, a global smart infrastructure company supporting the project, emphasized the technology’s track record. “Itron works with utilities and cities around the globe, helping them manage energy and water with intelligent-type infrastructure systems. We’ve seen great adoption of this technology around the world, in North America, and now in Springfield. These systems are working securely and safely, bringing benefits to the end customers.”
Eversource’s smart meter network went live on July 21 following more than a year of planning and testing in collaboration with local partners. Smart meter installations in Western Mass. will continue into early 2026 before expanding into Eastern Mass.
“In February 2024, we set a goal to have our smart meter technology systems live and online on July 21, 2025. Sure enough, this team was able to hit it right on schedule,” said Luis Pizano, director of Metering and Smart Meter Operations. “That milestone was critical to begin installations, and now we’re steadily ramping up, with plans to exchange up to 40,000 meters per month by fall.”
Pizano’s sentiment was echoed by state Rep. Brian Ashe, who attended the Aug. 7 event, calling it a significant step forward for the region. “As legislators, whether you’re a representative or a senator, the job really is to be an advocate for your district, an ambassador for the district that you serve, the Pioneer Valley, Western Massachusetts, and the Commonwealth as a whole. I am thrilled that Eversource is able to have this opening and to understand more about smart meters.”
