As per a recent report by Energy Efficiency Services Limited, states that have installed smart meters have shown good results when it comes to billing, with an average increase of 25%.1 In the wake of the COIVD-19 pandemic and social distancing rules in place, smart electric meters offer a much-needed solution to collecting electricity bills.
Compared to traditional electricity meters, smart meters can record electricity usage in hourly intervals, sometimes even in a 15-minute interval. They transmit data to the utilities constantly, and in the process enabling two-way communication between the agency and the home/business.
What exactly are smart electric meters?
As such, there are two main types of electric meters used by most utilities and agencies. The first is the electromechanical meter which operates by counting the number of revolutions of an aluminium disc. The other is the automated (“smart”) meters.
Just like the mileage display in your cars which record the total distance covered by the vehicle, a smart electricity meter displays the total amount of power consumed since its installation. It is typically installed at the point where the power line enters your home or office. Additionally, the electric meter that is assigned to you bears a unique number for better identification and billing purposes.
Why do we need them?
With smart meters, you never have to worry about submitting the readings. These devices automatically send out the reading to the agency on a regular basis. It is also a great way of making budgeting a priority. Smart electricity meters have an In-Home Display that shows you exactly how much energy you are consuming as well as the associated bill you will incur. On the basis that reading, you can start imbibing good energy habits which will contribute to an increase in your savings.
Smart electricity bills prevent an energy estimation which can be an inaccurate measure of your electricity measurement. With traditional meters, if you miss a reading then the agency makes an estimate of the typical amount of energy you have used in the past and makes a bill accordingly. Since smart meters send your readings automatically, you no longer have to face shock bills.
Smart meters can also let you know instantaneously if the device has become faulty. The In-Home Display shows how much energy you have consumed and if there is a sudden spike at any given time, you know that the appliance has become faulty. You can speedily get it dealt with.
Smart electric meters improve your awareness about energy consumption and lead to better energy-saving habits. It gives you an avenue to make a behavioural change, which in the long run, is better for the planet.
Installing one? Here’s what you should keep in mind
Now that you know the many advantages of having a smart electricity meter at home, there are few things you should keep in mind before you go for installation.
When you opt for an agency for the installation. Make sure that the agency lets you know about the time duration for the installation process and if there is anything required from your end to make the process seamless. For example, you might be expected to clear out the cupboard behind which your meter has been installed.
From your end, you should let the agency know if you use solar panels for alternative energy sources. Additionally, you should let the agency know if your meter is at an inaccessible place, such as high up on the wall or behind a locked gate or door.
When the engineers finally arrive at your home, they first visually inspect the meter and take a final reading from the old meter. You should make sure that the reading taken by them is accurate. Note down the reading for better peace of mind.
While offering better efficiency, they are also easy to maintain. You will need to replace your smart electric meter around every ten years. Additionally, your agency will let you know when the changeover is due and allocate a time when the engineers will come to replace it.
Smart meter for a
Smart metering is not just a piece of the instrument for better electricity reading. It is about being digitally strong. In this regard, a smart electric meter is a small step in that direction. Having a smart meter in-home is offering the masses a dynamic piece of instrument, offering them a way to communicate with the digital backend round-the-clock.