Do you know what data your electrical utility is collecting, how it’s stored, and how they might use that data? Want to understand how that data could help you reduce your energy use or save you money? Would it surprise you to learn that your utility may be sharing your data with various law enforcement agencies without notifying you? Read on for more info on this seemingly obscure but truly important topic.
What is a smart meter?
A smart meter is an advanced electronic device used to measure various aspects of electricity use at your home or business. The most basic smart meters can measure energy use (kWh) on a monthly basis, and transmit this information to your electric utility over a powerline signal, wifi network, or cellular connection. If your electric meter is digital, it’s likely that your utility provider has at least this basic “automated meter reading” (AMR) capability.
More advanced smart meters can do more—both in measurement, and in communication. Many can measure energy use in kWh hourly, and also measure electric demand in kW over the same time period. Some meters even measure these values every 15-minutes. With this advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), communication can occur in both directions, so a utility can “check-in” with a meter to see if it’s active, looking for power outages, or other problems on the system. Utilities may also be able to see other problems in the grid, such as lagging voltage, frequency dips, or poor power factor.
Why smart meters?
The benefits of smart meters have been promised for many years. Some have already materialized, others are a bit more tentative.
For utilities, the ability to automatically read meters remotely means they don’t have to send out meter readers. It also allows better monitoring of the grid, and better visibility into power outages or other problems.
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