Mesa Smart Meter Study About Smart Meters
About Smart Meters Overview Smart meters give utility customers more control over their electricity bill by empowering them with information to make smarter choices about electricity usage. Smart meters track electricity consumption similarly to the old analog meters, but report data back to the utility company digitally using a secure code associated with the customer s account. Just as your cable is now digital instead of an antenna, and your cell phone requires no land line, your meter can now work digitally to transmit information to the utility over securely encrypted networks. Utilities across the nation are rapidly adopting smart meters in an effort to provide more reliable electric service. The Institute for Electric Efficiency estimates that more than half of U.S. homes will have a smart meter by 2015 and the majority of the country will use smart meters by the end of the decade. Utility customers without a smart meter receive a monthly statement of their consumption based on a manual reading, limiting the customer s ability to gauge how changes can be made to energy consumption. However, with smart meters, customers can monitor their consumption in nearreal time, helping them to make better choices that can positively impact their monthly bills. A small chip in the smart meter reads usage digitally and transmits it in 15-minute increments to a secured server run by the utility. This information allows the utility to report usage information to the customer via an online portal, which helps them see usage patterns and how they might be able to make changes that will lower their bills. Benefits Smart meters help customers save money by providing detailed information on energy consumption Smart meters will soon be able to report power outages or other problems immediately so fixes can be made more quickly Smart meters report usage data every 15 minutes Consumers can track their electricity online Smart meters make account maintenance more efficient Smart meters are secure and do not transmit any personal information Smart meters are safe, using far less radiofrequency signals than permitted by the FCC Smart meters are good for the environment Most of the U.S. will have a smart meter by 2020
Since data is transmitted digitally, the smart meter alerts the utility immediately of any power outages or problems. Smart meters are also environmentally friendly, helping reduce the use of materials and allowing utility companies to send out fewer service trucks for repair and meter monitoring. In the long-term, a smart-meter-enabled grid will provide more reliable electric service with fewer and shorter outages with the added benefit of helping consumers reduce consumption and lower their monthly bills.
Smart Meter Q&A Are smart meters safe? Yes. A smart meter transmits fewer radio frequencies than a baby monitor, cell phone or microwave. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted radio frequency (RF) exposure limits that ensure safety for the public and workers, and the actual RF emissions from smart meters are a fraction of the limit allowed. Radio frequency from a smart meter has been shown to be 125 to 1,250 times below that of a cell phone. There has never been a documented injury or health problem associated with smart meters. Are smart meters a security risk? No. Smart meters have inherent security features built in to keep information private and secure. Any traffic sent over the smart meter network uses industry-proven encryption combined with proprietary protocol. The meter itself is password protected. The technology (ZigBee ) used for connecting the meter to the home inhibits intrusion with its own separate encryption technology. The smart meter device contains intelligence technology to alert a highly secure data center of any suspicious activity. Does the smart meter allow the utility company to access my private data? No personal information is stored in or on a smart meter. Instead, smart meters use a code associated with the customer s account to track energy consumption. In the same way that the utility has always read and reported to customers the amount of electricity used, we will still provide that information. That information is yours, and we have no need or desire to use it in any way. Will a smart meter raise my electricity bill? A smart meter will not raise or change your utility costs. However, it can help you reduce your bill with the knowledge of when you use the most electricity. That power can help you change habits to lower your energy consumption, and your bill. Do smart meters interfere with other electronics? No. Smart meters meet federal standards to operate without interfering with other devices in one location.
Will a smart meter overheat and cause a fire? No. Smart meters are required to pass national standards for safe operation. Additionally, the installation technician inspects for poor socket connections during smart meter installations. Do I have to buy an in-home monitor to use a smart meter? No. While an in-home monitor provides additional advantages, you do not need it for your smart meter to work. Do I have to use less electricity if I have a smart meter? While most consumers do use less electricity once they have a better idea of their usage habits, you are not required to lower your usage. Can the utility company monitor what items I m using in my house? No. The smart meter reports how much electricity is being consumed rather than how it is being used. Does a smart meter mean I ll have more power outages? A smart meter plays no part in power outages. However, if you have a smart meter, power may in fact be restored more quickly in the event of an outage because the utility company will know about the outage sooner because of the connection of the meter to the smart grid. Questions To learn more, call 505-662-8333, email dpu@lacnm.us or visit http://www.losalamosnm.us/utilities/pages/mesasmartmeterstudy.aspx