Outside most people’s homes, the
electric meter is an often neglected instrument rarely
acknowledged by residents unless there’s a power outage or a
resident is contesting their bill.
But with the installation of “smart”
meters across the state, electric companies are offering
easier ways for residents to keep track of their energy
usage.
Unlike traditional electromechanical
meters that use dials, smart meters, or advanced metering
systems, are digital meters equipped with radio frequency.
However, not all digital meters are smart meters.
With smart meters, a low-level
transmission signal tracks energy use and sends the
information to electric companies for billing purposes.
Instead of meter readers visiting your house monthly, the
smart meter tracks usage in 15-minute increments.
Residents now have the ability to track
their own usage through SmartMeterTexas.com or through their
energy provider’s website.
More frequent tracking enables electric
companies to find and solve problems faster, Oncor Electric
Delivery Area Manager Sue Mercer said.
“If there’s no current or voltage is
not optimal, it notifies us and tells us there is an issue
and sends us a ticket to go out and inspect,” Mercer said.
“It’s a great indicator. We have found problems of a loose
connector prior to the customer calling in or noticing there
is an issue.”
Mercer added, “It’s why we term them as
a smart type of meter to let us know when there is a
problem.”
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