A Basic Run Down on Smart Meters

The days of a single monthly meter reading and limited information are over.?Over the last several decades - most utilities have deployed smart meters.?According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, there are more than 110 million smart meters already installed at about 70% of homes across the country.?Smart meters are devices that send near real-time electric usage information from customers’ homes and businesses to the utility via a secure communication network.?Smart metering delivers accurate and timely usage data allowing for efficient energy consumption decisions.?These devices also enhance reliability, improve customer service, and reduce carbon footprints for a more sustainable future.?

Many utilities are on their second wave of devices with improved capabilities that help support a more resilient grid and provide the potential for consumers to intelligently manage their usage.?There is a great value – as these meters make up a grid that continuously provides an overall assessment of the distribution system – ensuring improved safety and reliability.?

In addition – these meters connect to the utility?system monitoring and customer applications. This 2-way communication creates an integrated system between customers and the utility – providing many benefits, which include:

·???Accurate and flexible billing

·???Ability to shift usage to off-peak (lower) rates

·???No estimated bills

·???More convenient move-in/move outs

·???Enhanced real-time electric-use information

·???Near real-time power-outage detection and faster restoration times.?Outage frequency & durations will be lower.?

·???Reduced carbon footprint

·???More robust energy efficiency efforts

·???Pre-payment options

As the new wave of smart meters is deployed – both utilities and customers are benefitting from improved awareness of consumption, pricing options, load control decisions, and opportunities to leverage smart home energy management, time-of-use pricing,?budget billing, and outage/usage alerts.?In addition – as technology advances - the advanced smart energy networks allow the utility to handle the expected distributed energy resources (electrical vehicles, solar panels, home batteries) in a more efficient manner.

CCI partners with many utilities and solution providers to help deliver a smarter energy network.?We have installed millions of smart meters and associated devices.?CCI is excited to provide utilities with the required intelligence needed to manage the rapid expansion of both energy-producing and energy-consuming devices both now and into the future.?For more information – please contact us at?www.contractcallers.com.?