Smart Meter Technology Installations are Underway!
As a regulated company, we are bound by a tariff that is approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and authorizes South Jersey Gas to install and maintain metering devices for each of its customers and to change or alter equipment for the purpose of adequately furnishing accurate records.
The South Jersey Gas (SJG) Smart Meter Program represents the next phase in our service advancement, aligning with our dedication to deliver safe, reliable, affordable natural gas while also elevating the customer experience. The Program includes upgrading your existing gas meter by integrating a communication device, enabling automatic and secure transmission of gas usage data directly to the SJG billing center, eliminating the need for manual readings. Benefits include:
- Improved Meter Reading Accuracy
- Enhanced Customer Experience
- Increased Reliability
No action is needed on your part and in most cases, there will be no interruption in service during the technology upgrade. Our qualified contractor will install the smart meter technology and leave a door hanger once the work is complete.
Please review the FAQ’s below and if you have additional questions, please call our Smart Meter Program Hotline at 1.844.370.9290 or email us at smartsjg@sjindustries.com. All inquiries will be responded to within one business day.
About the SJG Smart Meter Program
A smart meter is an upgrade to your natural gas meter that includes a communication device that automatically and securely transfers natural gas usage information from your home or businesses directly to SJG via a secure wireless communications network.
Smart meters allow natural gas usage information to be automatically and securely transferred to SJG, without the need for manual readings. The safety and reliability of your natural gas service will not be affected by this upgrade.
There will be no noticeable change to your natural gas service. The smart meter will simply transfer your natural gas usage automatically and securely to SJG.
SJG regularly invests in technology upgrades and infrastructure improvements to deliver natural gas safely and reliably to your home and business. Smart meters benefits include:
- Improved Meter Reading Accuracy – Gas usage information is automatically and securely transferred from your meter to SJG, reducing the need for a manual reading.
- Enhanced Customer Experience – Faster information transfer to better assist you.
- Increased Reliability – Usage data helps SJG better forecast your gas needs.
Yes. Smart meter technology upgrades will be installed on all natural gas meters.
SJG will install over 400,000 smart meters at residential and business customer locations.
We expect that it will take approximately two years to install 400,000 smart meters. Work started in late 2023 and we anticipate completion by the end of 2025.
We are committed to working with our partners and all employees on the transition to smart meter technology.
Yes. Customers can continue to read their meter the same way as before the smart meter was installed.
What to Expect During Installation
Yes. We will contact customers with details about their smart meter installation. You will receive a postcard followed by a letter and information sheet prior to installation.
On the day of your smart meter installation, an SJG contractor will knock on your door as a courtesy to let you know they will be upgrading your meter. You do not need to be present for the installation. Contractors carry identification so if you’re unsure, ask for ID.
Installations take place Monday through Friday, between 7:00a.m. and 5:00p.m. Some Saturday work during the same times may occur. Again, you do not need to be present for the installation.
Once the installation is complete, the contractor will leave a door hanger letting you know the upgrade is complete.
If installation cannot be completed, a door hanger with a phone number to schedule an appointment will be provided.
Most installations will take approximately 60 minutes or less to complete.
In most cases, there will be no service interruption during installation. In the unlikely event that your service would need to be interrupted, our contractor will leave a door hanger with a phone number for you to call for an appointment.
If your meter is located outside and is accessible, you do not need to be home. Once the installation is complete, our contractor will leave a door hanger letting you know the upgrade has been done.
If the gas meter is located inside or is otherwise inaccessible, please schedule a smart meter installation appointment by calling 1.844.370.9290.
Until completion in late 2025, SJG will maintain its current process to ensure seamless implementation. Therefore, you may continue to see meter readers until the technology is fully implemented. If you currently provide meter readings to SJG, please continue to do so.
Safety & Security
Yes. Smart meters use low-power radio frequency (RF) that is generally far less than RF used by devices already in the home such as baby monitors, cell phones, microwaves, TVs, and wireless routers.
No. RF energy is all around us. It plays a critical role in in the communications systems that we depend on every day, such as police and fire radio systems and pagers, radio and television broadcasts and cellular telephones. Many of the conveniences we've grown accustomed to in our homes, such as cordless phones and wireless internet (WiFi), utilize radio frequency.
The emissions exposure from smart meters is well below nationally established limits set by federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Communications Commission. Many studies indicate that the daily life exposure of RF emissions from smart meters is far lower than the emissions from other commonly used electronic devices such as laptops (81 times higher than smart meter emissions) or smart phones (32,000 times higher than smart meter emissions).
RF exposure example: 
There is no demonstrated cause and effect relationship between low levels of RF exposure and adverse human health effects. SJG relies upon the expert findings on science related to RF exposures and health effects, most notably by the World Health Organization (WHO), the FCC, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The smart meter technology product SJG uses fully comply with U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines for human exposure to RF energy.
The smart meter technology SJG is installing only sends natural gas usage information from our customers’ homes and businesses to SJG via a secure wireless communications network. These smart meters do not collect, store, or transmit any personal information.
Customer privacy is very important to us. SJG has developed a comprehensive, multi-layered security plan to ensure that the smart meter technology is secure. Our in-depth security strategy includes controls based on NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and frameworks to establish robust security protocols and ensure compliance with industry standards. Key security design components include:
- Meters connected to private networks and inaccessible directly from the internet.
- Communication from the meters is encrypted with industry standard protection.
- Meters cannot remotely turn gas on or off. The smart meter technology is designed to transfer gas usage information safely and securely back to SJG.
SJG will use natural gas usage information primarily for billing. The information will not be shared outside of SJG.
No. The smart meter technology SJG is installing does not collect, store, or transmit any personal information.
What Won't Happen
No. The smart meter technology that SJG is connected to is an independent and secure wireless network. It does not connect to your personal wireless network.
No. SJG will not monitor individual appliances or any other equipment.
No. A smart meter accurately records your natural gas usage information and will not cause an increase or decrease to your natural gas bill. For more information about your bill, go to southjerseygas.com/understandmybill. To learn ways to lower your energy costs, visit sjgsaveenergy.com
No. The smart meter technology that SJG is installing does not have the capability of remotely disconnecting your gas service. In addition, the technology does not have the capability of monitoring appliance usage or how appliances are being used.
No. The decision to turn off natural gas service for non-payment only happens after we make every effort to assist the customer. Assistance may include a referral to a state payment assistance program, the establishment of a payment plan, and other efforts to help the customer maintain their natural gas service while restoring their account to good standing.
In unfortunate instances where a turn off is necessary, SJG will not disconnect service from a centralized location or remotely. Instead, an SJG Customer Service Representative may call, email, or direct mail a customer to provide them with an opportunity to pay their bill.