Smart meters have two-way communication capabilities and Internet addresses, much like computers, with the ability to send usage data every 15 minutes and on demand.
What Does This Mean For You?
- Remote meter reading
- Your utility can read smart meters remotely, virtually eliminating the need to go house to house to read electric meters, which means fewer trucks on the road and no more meter readers in your yard.
- Smoother transactions
- Remote connection and disconnection of electric service should reduce the time it takes to process service orders for most homes. It can all be done remotely without a service call.
- Automated outage notification
- Smart meters will automatically notify utilities about power outages to help restore your power more quickly.
- Energy efficiency and savings
- Consumers can see their electric usage history to better manage energy costs by making small changes such as adjusting the thermostat. Now you can pinpoint when and why your electricity usage fluctuates. The smart meter records electricity usage every 15 minutes throughout the day.
- Home Area Networks (HAN)
- Smart meters can interact with ZigBee-compatible HAN devices such as thermostats or other electric appliances so consumers can better manage their electricity use.
What About the Rumors that Smart Meters are Prone to Errors and Actually Cost Consumers More?
Smart meters were introduced during one of the coldest winter months Texas has ever experienced. The increased heat consumption raised market prices for energy which caused a spike in rates and higher energy bills. In addition, the meters were not prepared for the combination of above average heat usage and the extreme temperatures, causing them to experience some technical errors. However, these issues have been addressed in current units.
When Will I Receive a Smart Meter?
Select your TDSP below to view their estimated smart meter deployment schedule.