Smart Meter----------- who has them?

[JPG]

We have the smart meters. They seem to work just fine. If anything my bill seems to have come down, but that might be fuel cost adjustments.
I like the smart meter because you can read it directly. When I get a bill I can go out look at the meter and see if it agrees with the bill within a reasonable range.

You could do that with the 'old' meter.

Had to watch whether forward was CW or CCW for alternate dials though.

[Ed in Tampa]

We have the smart meters. They seem to work just fine. If anything my bill seems to have come down, but that might be fuel cost adjustments.
I like the smart meter because you can read it directly. When I get a bill I can go out look at the meter and see if it agrees with the bill within a reasonable range.

You could do that with the 'old' meter.

Had to watch whether forward was CW or CCW for alternate dials though.

Yeah it was so simple the electric company posted the five step method on each electric bill.
I think going out and looking at the meter that says 54,367 is a lot easier.

[JPG]

We have the smart meters. They seem to work just fine. If anything my bill seems to have come down, but that might be fuel cost adjustments.
I like the smart meter because you can read it directly. When I get a bill I can go out look at the meter and see if it agrees with the bill within a reasonable range.

You could do that with the 'old' meter.

Had to watch whether forward was CW or CCW for alternate dials though.

Yeah it was so simple the electric company posted the five step method on each electric bill.
I think going out and looking at the meter that says 54,367 is a lot easier.

But of course! However I had greater faith in those teeny tiny gears and the accuracy of the power sensing 'motor' than all these fancy electronics.

How many decades do your computers/cell phones/whatever etc. last and how many of them do so?

[recurvearcher]

Smart Meters are the norm now. Implemented as cost saving measure or mandated by State Regulatory Agencies. Often touted as "helping save energy" through accurate, real time monitoring of usage.
The eventual outcome will be tiered/real time rates based on peak demand periods. On a hot summer day, when demand is high, the rates will increase as a means of getting people to curtail their usage. A stopgap measure to allow utilities to maximize profits while forgoing investment in needed infrastructure. At least that's the way its being set up in my state.

[ERLover]

By the early to mid 80s most electrical utility companies figured it out that it was cheaper over all for the consumer to practice conservation and lead the consumer products, manufactures to make more electrical efficient products then to keep building power plants at the cost then of about 1-2M$ per megawatt, which cost got past onto the customer anyway. Better for share holders too.
My father in law was on the fore front of that in the late 70s till he retired as Sr VP at WeEnergies in 86. Much to the disdain of the CEO, who told him, "we are in the business of selling electricity, not less". Nick had a lot of fore sight. He headed 3 departments b4 he retired in 86, Corporate planning, Rates and Environmental. After he retired they had a separated VP for each one.

[db5]

Here's what hasn't been mentioned about smart meters: Pair it with a smart thermostat and you have the ability to do a lot of things based on energy usage on the grid. The higher the demand the higher the rate you will pay so you can set it for "voluntary or mandatory energy events" which changes the setting during demand periods. However, this isn't really voluntary because with RF technology they can change your thermostat without your knowledge or approval so the load on the grid is reduced. You want it to be cool at 75 and the AC shuts off and it climes to 80. You adjust it and it gets reset. Supposedly you are saving money. Not! Check out Energate Smart Thermostat. The company doesn't tell the whole truth. After two years I got fed up, pulled it and installed a simple digital thermostat.

[JPG]

Here's what hasn't been mentioned about smart meters: Pair it with a smart thermostat and you have the ability to do a lot of things based on energy usage on the grid. The higher the demand the higher the rate you will pay so you can set it for "voluntary or mandatory energy events" which changes the setting during demand periods. However, this isn't really voluntary because with RF technology they can change your thermostat without your knowledge or approval so the load on the grid is reduced. You want it to be cool at 75 and the AC shuts off and it climes to 80. You adjust it and it gets reset. Supposedly you are saving money. Not! Check out Energate Smart Thermostat. The company doesn't tell the whole truth. After two years I got fed up, pulled it and installed a simple digital thermostat.

'WE" got a voluntary control device between the thermostat and the compressor control relay. During peak demand 'they' can cause the compressor to stop running for a short period(the stoppage 'rolls' around the users).

Also get a $5 reduction in monthly bill during summer months.



We also get periods of rising internal temperature and humidity but they are brief.

[Ed in Tampa]

Smart Meters are the norm now. Implemented as cost saving measure or mandated by State Regulatory Agencies. Often touted as "helping save energy" through accurate, real time monitoring of usage.
The eventual outcome will be tiered/real time rates based on peak demand periods. On a hot summer day, when demand is high, the rates will increase as a means of getting people to curtail their usage. A stopgap measure to allow utilities to maximize profits while forgoing investment in needed infrastructure. At least that's the way its being set up in my state.

I think this is beyond "smart meters". This technology requires a communication circuit back to a sub station or control center. Here in Tampa I can sign up for energy savings where they cut off my hot water tank or air when load volume, is high but to do this I have to give the access to my phone line. Another program charges me different prices based on how much energy I use. 0-1000kw is one price 1000-2000kw is a higher price and so on.
Smart meters can only transmitt info very short distances, as in 'house to truck on street.'

[db5]

Just heard on local news, with pictures. Google Lindsey OK Smart Meters and you will be able to pick up the broadcast. Seems they were just installed in Lindly. Some over $500 for a single family residence. Local officials said they are more accurate than analog meters. How about that smart fans!

[recurvearcher]

Smart Meters are the norm now. Implemented as cost saving measure or mandated by State Regulatory Agencies. Often touted as "helping save energy" through accurate, real time monitoring of usage.
The eventual outcome will be tiered/real time rates based on peak demand periods. On a hot summer day, when demand is high, the rates will increase as a means of getting people to curtail their usage. A stopgap measure to allow utilities to maximize profits while forgoing investment in needed infrastructure. At least that's the way its being set up in my state.

I think this is beyond "smart meters". This technology requires a communication circuit back to a sub station or control center. Here in Tampa I can sign up for energy savings where they cut off my hot water tank or air when load volume, is high but to do this I have to give the access to my phone line. Another program charges me different prices based on how much energy I use. 0-1000kw is one price 1000-2000kw is a higher price and so on.
Smart meters can only transmitt info very short distances, as in 'house to truck on street.'

Your first sentence accurately describes how the smart meter grid is being installed in my area. The meter sends a burst signal from its memory to a local repeater antenna which then sends the data on to the utility.
If I recall correctly, as they are installing them now,they are set to do that 4 times a day with each burst lasting less than a second. Both gas and electric in my area have installed similar systems. I think a measure was just proposed to our state regulators to allow real time usage billing for small commercial customers. Residential may follow, depends how much flak is generated.

My water meter just sends a signal to a van as it drives by. But because of the reduced water usage, due to drought restrictions, they raised the rates to make up for lost revenue from lower water usage?
My neighbor signed up for the disconnect control on her central A/C system. They shut if off so many times last summer,she went out and bought window units and switches those on when they shut of her central unit. Kinda defeats the purpose,but an inventive work around.

If you hadn't guessed yet, this is one of those subjects that can just send me off on a rant! But this isn't the place. Besides, I have to get back to a thread I have going about Toll Roads and High Speed Rail on a Gardening Forum. Maybe I should just fire up the Shopsmith for a little "Sawdust Therapy". But wait, that will spin my smart meter, which will tell the grid to make more power,which will cause them to throw more coal soot out a stack in another state,likely Utah,which may make a Mormon cough and I like Mormons..ugh..never ends! Anybody know how many solar panels you need to run a 520?