Smart Meter Concerns and Progress
In decades past, it was difficult for utility companies to check your gas, electric and water meters. Just like everything else in the energy sector, things have changed a great deal. Some utilities began replacing human-read meters with wireless meters. Utility companies could then simply have a worker drive around in a van equipped with a receiver that could read these short-range signals. The latest advance in technology is the smart meter, a device that can do much more than simply tell the electric company how much juice you've used. While there are some drawbacks to smart meters, equipping your home with one of them can save you money and contribute to society's efforts to maintain and improve the environment.
The traditional power grid has kept the lights on for quite a long time, but isn't the most flexible or responsive system. The United States power grid has suffered from occasional region-wide interruptions and brownouts because local utilities have been unable to accurately regulate the flow of electricity. When all homes in an area are equipped with smart meters, officials have a lot better idea of how much electricity is being used and how much is needed.
Even better, smart meters empower the consumer to save money. Instead of receiving a usage report once a month on your electric bill, you could receive real-time reports as to how much energy you're using. While you're probably not going to stop using your air conditioner in the summer, you might be more likely to resist using it too much. The savings of one homeowner can be great, but the effect is magnified when multiplied by the millions of Texas energy consumers. You could save a little bit of money by the end of the year, and the environment is better off because you've helped prevent tons of coal and natural gas from being burned.
According to Jim Landers, a staff writer for the Dallas News, approximately 3 million homes have been equipped with a next-generation electric meter. While the consumer must generally pay the up-front cost for the meter, this is the kind of expense that will pay for itself over the long term. The possibilities are endless; if your home features a smart meter, you could have the ability to control the electricity in your home with your cell phone. (No more calling the neighbors to check to see if you've forgotten to turn off the living room light!)
Once your utility offers these capabilities and your home is equipped with a smart meter, you can also receive real-time usage statistics. Just as the power company can see these figures second-by-second, you'll be able to as well. This information, depending on your utility's system, can be viewed on your smart phone or via the Internet.
As is usually the case, technological advancements are accompanied by unanticipated concerns. Smart meters generally report back to the utility using the same kind of electromagnetic waves as cell phones. As Felicity Berringer reported in the New York Times, some people are concerned about the health effects of sustained exposure to this kind of radiation. Fortunately for the millions of cell phone users in the United States, the ongoing scientific research demonstrates that there are no health risks to humans as a result of these kinds of devices. As smart meters are introduced to new areas, this push-and-pull will continue. People will demand to know that smart meters are safe, and science will continue to research and make sure there is no threat.
Privacy is another concern. The greatest benefit for the utility company is to know the total use of energy by region, so supply and demand can be properly balanced. Some are afraid that utility companies will use the specific information from specific customers in an undesirable manner. Just like any other company, your Retail Electric Provider (REP) has a privacy policy that clearly describes what the company will do with your personal information.
Smart meters have been called a "better cash register" by which to charge you for the electricity supplied to your home. Instead of guessing whether or not you're using less energy than you did the previous month, you'll be empowered to know how much juice you're using and how much it will cost you. When smart meters from your Texas energy provider become a possibility for you, consider the possibilities and be open to the savings.