Smart meters & more

You may be reading about communities and utilities installing “Smart Meters” in the United States. Smart electric meters use digital technology that provides two-way communication between the meter at your home or business and the utility.

Smart meters record electricity usage daily or more frequently and transmit the data by way of a dedicated radio frequency network to the utility. They are designed to let you know exactly how much electricity you are using over the course of a day, week or month. This new information can help you better manage your electricity use. You can reduce your electricity use when prices are high and opt to start that load of clothes or dishes right before you go to bed, a time when power prices are generally lower (called “off peak”). This practice can help you cut your electricity use during “peak” periods and reduce your bill.

Smart meters also give you the power to adjust your energy use when you are away from home, through your personal digital device or the web. You can turn off lights or adjust your thermostat.

Several Virginia utilities currently are testing smart meters to evaluate the benefits of the technology and the impact on energy conservation.