Current Construction

FortisAlberta is excited to announce the Next Generation Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program. Fortis will install new network equipment and upgrade the electricity meters in our community. As with any technology, upgrades are essential to meet evolving needs and requirements. AMI metering technology is becoming the standard throughout North America with a proven record of increasing sustainability, reliability and being a cost-effective choice for customers.

In the coming weeks, FortisAlberta technicians will begin installing AMI network equipment (gateways, routers, and streetlight controllers) on poles and streetlights owned and operated by FortisAlberta. They will also replace a series of home and business meters in select locations to establish the AMI network.

Following the AMI network equipment installation, FortisAlberta will begin the mass installation of AMI electricity meters for all homes and businesses across our service territory. This process will start in the fall of 2025 and continue through the end of 2029. Most of these meter exchanges will be performed by Olameter Inc., FortisAlberta’s AMI mass meter installation vendor. FortisAlberta will provide additional information on future mass meter installations and timelines three months before work begins in your community.

Approximate Timeline:

• Network equipment installation: August 4 through September 1, 2025
• Mass Meter Installation: October 2025 through December 2029

The new AMI meters use radio frequency (RF) waves or cellular communication to transmit data automatically from the installed AMI meters.

If you have further questions or concerns, please contact Fortis Alberta Inc at 310-WIRE (9473) or FortisAlberta.com.

The Town of Olds will be conducting routine hydrant maintenance and flow testing throughout the community commencing on May 21, 2025, in the northeast quadrant of Olds. This will be ongoing until project is completed.

This important work helps ensure that our fire hydrants are in proper working order and that our water system maintains adequate pressure and flow rates for emergency services and everyday use.

Residents may notice the following during this period:

• Temporary discoloration of water
• Brief drops in water pressure
• Water in the streets from testing activity

What to do if you notice discolored water:

• Run your cold-water tap (preferably from the bathtub or a basement sink) for several minutes until the water runs clear.
• Avoid doing laundry during or immediately after testing in your area to prevent fabric staining.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to maintain a safe and efficient water system.

For questions or updates, please contact please call our on-call number: 403-994-1376.

Starting in May 2025, Metercor has started the communication process via letters, phone calls, and emails with residents in Phase 1 of the meter replacement (see yellow dots in above image). 

What you need to know about the exchange:

• Quick and simple – The process typically takes less than an hour and may require a temporary water shutoff.
• Same location – Your new meter will be installed where your current one is.
• Clear the area – Please ensure the meter location is accessible for the installer.
• Certified professionals – A uniformed Metercor representative carrying ID will complete the exchange. Feel free to ask for their ID or call Metercor at 403-280-3070 for verification.
• Adult presence required – Someone 18 years or older must be home to verify and sign the service order.

Book Your Appointment

Scheduling your meter exchange is easy! Please book your appointment before June 13, 2025.

• Online: Visit book.metercor.com
• By Phone: Call 1-888-290-3070 or 403-280-3070 during business hours
• Flexible times: Evening and Saturday appointments are available for your convenience

This is not an optional service. We thank you for your cooperation.

What is Outdoor Tap Pressure Testing?

The town will continue to be conducting pressure testing starting Friday, May 23, 2025, to try and locate additional leaks within our infrastructure system. This is very easy to do and is a important step to help us locate deficiencies within our system. Pressure testing has minimal impact and only takes a few minutes. Your understanding and cooperation during this process is appreciated so we can complete this process efficiently and address any problems.

Why is this happening?

Pressure Testing is an essential maintenance activity and commonly done by local governments everywhere. It helps us identify water leaks in both our water main pipes and in residential service connections to the water main. Water leaks cost taxpayers money and can cause damage to private property if not found and repaired.  This is an important action taken by the Town of Olds to identify and repair issues in our infrastructure for long-term solutions.  Town of Olds Approves Capital Budget Amendment to Combat Infrastructure Issues.

If you are interested in learning more about the importance of identifying water leaks and how these leaks impact tax payers and the financial well-being of the Town, please review our 2025 Financial Report. 

What can I expect?

Our operators are attaching a pressure gauge to the outdoor tap confirm what the holding pressure is within the home, this gives us a good indication if we need to proceed with additional investigation (listening on the curbstop). No digging is required. The pressure gauge has no effect on anything pressure related to the home and will not harm the water supply or sewer line in anyway.

If our operators experience any issues during pressure testing, we will ensure the resident is notified. It is very rare for the running of an outdoor tap to cause an issue.  If you are concerned about your tap, please contact the Operations team (contact information is below).  

What if a leak is found?

Should a leak be suspected, further investigation will occur and the property owner/resident will be notified of this further work.

What are my rights?

The Town has the right to access private land through both Water Bylaw – 2024-09 (s. 67 & 69) and the utility connection agreement all utility customers sign prior to receiving utility services from the Town.  It is part of the contract between residents and the Town to connect to our utility system.

We will not be entering anyone’s homes, referred to as “premises” in the bylaw.

Timeline

We will be investigating these leaks starting in May 2025 on weekdays. When possible, specific locations will be shared on Facebook and through our Municipal Calendar. You can subscribe to be alerted to these events at www.olds.ca/subscribe. 

Contact:

If you have additional concerns, please contact the Operations team at (403) 556-6981 or by email at operations@olds.ca.