The project will update older electricity meters in approximately 25 per cent of homes and small businesses in Northern Ireland by September 2017.
NIE said it won’t be replacing the meters with smart meters “at this stage”.
The company’s head of market operations Gerard Magee said: “Electricity meters record the amount of electricity used and this project will replace any meter which has reached the end of its recommended lifecycle. This will ensure that customers continue to receive accurate information on their electricity usage.”
NIE has appointed two contractors to carry out the first phase of the project. KJM Electrical will carry out work in Greater Belfast, while MD Electrical will begin work across the country before the end of June. Contracts will be awarded for further phases of the project over the coming months.
In July 2012, the former enterprise, trade and investment minister Arlene Foster announced that NI would proceed with an electricity-only smart meter rollout in the domestic sector. The Utility Regulator was asked to oversee the introduction of smart meters.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Northern Ireland (DETINI), which is responsible for energy policy, will be consulting along with the Utility Regulator on a rollout of smart meters in the country this year.