You may have heard about the recent call for installing smart meters in our homes. These meters are advanced electrical meters that identify power consumption in greater detail than ordinary meters, and send that information back to the utility for billing and monitoring. But will they really help reduce power consumption? Let's take a look at what smart meters can and can't do for us.
Traditional power meters regulate only the energy consumed, and not when it was used, meaning that it's hard to match consumption with production. Smart meters are one of the more economical methods of measuring not only consumption, but times other information. This allows power companies to set different prices according to when the power is used. This will allow customers to save money by using power at nonpeak hours and avoiding paying too much for energy. It's hoped that this will keep electricity prices down.
Interestingly enough, the main electricity company in Italy is already providing electricity to more than 27 million customers via new electronic smart meters. These meters are not only able to measure power consumption, but they're also capable of managing it. Furthermore, being solid state, they communicate via low voltage power lines which make it possible for the electric company to detect any outages or unauthorized use of power. They also make it possible for the electric company to turn the electricity supply on or off from a remote location.
Due to the numerous benefits, smart meters are also currently being implemented in New Zealand, Australia, Scandinavia, Turkey, Canada, and the Netherlands. In the United States however, smart meters still tend to be restricted to only certain jurisdictions such as Los Angeles, northern California, and also some parts of Texas. As far as the United Kingdom and Ireland are concerned, it would seem that it's only a matter of time before smart meters become the norm. Essentially, it's become rather apparent that homeowners would like the opportunity to make their own choice with regards to buying power during times when the price is down, just as they would like to have a choice as to when they should sell any excess power they may have, back to the electric company.
Of course for smart meters to function properly, they need to be able to communicate information to a central command, and this is without doubt the biggest problem yet encountered. However, various proposals to have been put forth with regards to this issue, some of which suggest the use of cellular networks, power line communications, and even radio.
Just recently, the U.S. president openly called for 3,000 miles of transmission lines and a total of 40 million smart meters to be installed, making it the most ambitious upgrade the country's electrical grid has seen in the last 40 years. In fact, many people believe that it will have such a significant influence on society, that it could be compared to the Internet. Furthermore, because this project promises to be able to make use of power which originates from clean power projects, it has received a great deal of support. Additionally, it is widely accepted that such a project will help to curb the need to for additional power production centers.
Considering that a smart meter can cost from 100 to $300.00 to install, it is by all accounts a significant investment, but then again, if you are able to choose when you wish to use electricity based on different prices during different times of the day, and then the savings you could make will surely make it all worthwhile. Judging from the amount of investment which has been made so far with regards to this technology, we may well see this become a reality sooner rather than later .
Traditional power meters regulate only the energy consumed, and not when it was used, meaning that it's hard to match consumption with production. Smart meters are one of the more economical methods of measuring not only consumption, but times other information. This allows power companies to set different prices according to when the power is used. This will allow customers to save money by using power at nonpeak hours and avoiding paying too much for energy. It's hoped that this will keep electricity prices down.
Interestingly enough, the main electricity company in Italy is already providing electricity to more than 27 million customers via new electronic smart meters. These meters are not only able to measure power consumption, but they're also capable of managing it. Furthermore, being solid state, they communicate via low voltage power lines which make it possible for the electric company to detect any outages or unauthorized use of power. They also make it possible for the electric company to turn the electricity supply on or off from a remote location.
Due to the numerous benefits, smart meters are also currently being implemented in New Zealand, Australia, Scandinavia, Turkey, Canada, and the Netherlands. In the United States however, smart meters still tend to be restricted to only certain jurisdictions such as Los Angeles, northern California, and also some parts of Texas. As far as the United Kingdom and Ireland are concerned, it would seem that it's only a matter of time before smart meters become the norm. Essentially, it's become rather apparent that homeowners would like the opportunity to make their own choice with regards to buying power during times when the price is down, just as they would like to have a choice as to when they should sell any excess power they may have, back to the electric company.
Of course for smart meters to function properly, they need to be able to communicate information to a central command, and this is without doubt the biggest problem yet encountered. However, various proposals to have been put forth with regards to this issue, some of which suggest the use of cellular networks, power line communications, and even radio.
Just recently, the U.S. president openly called for 3,000 miles of transmission lines and a total of 40 million smart meters to be installed, making it the most ambitious upgrade the country's electrical grid has seen in the last 40 years. In fact, many people believe that it will have such a significant influence on society, that it could be compared to the Internet. Furthermore, because this project promises to be able to make use of power which originates from clean power projects, it has received a great deal of support. Additionally, it is widely accepted that such a project will help to curb the need to for additional power production centers.
Considering that a smart meter can cost from 100 to $300.00 to install, it is by all accounts a significant investment, but then again, if you are able to choose when you wish to use electricity based on different prices during different times of the day, and then the savings you could make will surely make it all worthwhile. Judging from the amount of investment which has been made so far with regards to this technology, we may well see this become a reality sooner rather than later .
About the Author:
About the author: Jerry Dyess has written about the Texas Electricity business for the past 7 years. Get more information on Texas Electric rates.
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