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Delmarva Power customers may have noticed a change in their electric meter recently. The utility company recently rolled out a new initiative to help citizens cut their energy usage and possibly cut their electric bill in the process.
Bridget Shelton, a spokeswoman for Delmarva Power, said the company has installed new Smart Meters for 99 percent of its 300,000 Delaware customers so far.
“The reason for this initiative most importantly is to give our customers more specific information about their personal energy use,” Shelton said. “With that information, we believe the more customers know, the more likely they’ll use that information to reduce their energy use, reduce their bill and actually negate the need for new power plants on the peninsula.”
The Smart Meter differs from the original meter in that it uses wireless technology that records the customer’s daily energy use and provides the person with information on when they are using the most energy, Shelton said. This will also eliminate the need for a meter reader to go door to door.
“The wireless technology lets us detect power outages without the customer having to call us,” she said. “We still want people to call us while we work out the kinks, but on a blue sky day when there’s not a lot of activity, it will help us detect outages for quicker restoration.”
Shelton said customers will be able to create an account online and review their personal energy data, including kilowatt usage and higher energy peaks, in the form of graphs.
Shelton said while Delmarva is paying the upfront costs of the new meters, the company has plans to seek recovery of the costs, which could come in the form of a rate increase. That decision would come from the Delaware Public Service Commission. The total cost of the initiative is approximately $86 million.
“We certainly believe if our customers take advantage of these energy saving tools, in the end they’ll save more than what might cost them in a rate increase,” she said.
She said while some customers initially rejected the new meters, the initiative is mandatory.
“We had the necessary conversations with those people in order for them to understand the reasons for the new technology,” she said. “Change is hard for some people, but we’re getting there.”
Installations of the new meters are expected to be complete by the end of the year, Shelton said. She expects everyone to have online access to their personal data by spring 2012.
Delmarva Power customers may have noticed a change in their electric meter recently. The utility company recently rolled out a new initiative to help citizens cut their energy usage and possibly cut their electric bill in the process.
Bridget Shelton, a spokeswoman for Delmarva Power, said the company has installed new Smart Meters for 99 percent of its 300,000 Delaware customers so far.
“The reason for this initiative most importantly is to give our customers more specific information about their personal energy use,” Shelton said. “With that information, we believe the more customers know, the more likely they’ll use that information to reduce their energy use, reduce their bill and actually negate the need for new power plants on the peninsula.”
The Smart Meter differs from the original meter in that it uses wireless technology that records the customer’s daily energy use and provides the person with information on when they are using the most energy, Shelton said. This will also eliminate the need for a meter reader to go door to door.
“The wireless technology lets us detect power outages without the customer having to call us,” she said. “We still want people to call us while we work out the kinks, but on a blue sky day when there’s not a lot of activity, it will help us detect outages for quicker restoration.”
Shelton said customers will be able to create an account online and review their personal energy data, including kilowatt usage and higher energy peaks, in the form of graphs.
Shelton said while Delmarva is paying the upfront costs of the new meters, the company has plans to seek recovery of the costs, which could come in the form of a rate increase. That decision would come from the Delaware Public Service Commission. The total cost of the initiative is approximately $86 million.
“We certainly believe if our customers take advantage of these energy saving tools, in the end they’ll save more than what might cost them in a rate increase,” she said.
She said while some customers initially rejected the new meters, the initiative is mandatory.
“We had the necessary conversations with those people in order for them to understand the reasons for the new technology,” she said. “Change is hard for some people, but we’re getting there.”
Installations of the new meters are expected to be complete by the end of the year, Shelton said. She expects everyone to have online access to their personal data by spring 2012.
Delmarva is also rolling out a similar product for its gas customers in northern New Castle County. Approximately 123,000 gas customers will receive a module on their current meter, which will provide users with the same kind of information as the Smart Meter.
“It’s taking a little longer on the gas side,” Shelton said. “Our goal for complete installment on that is spring 2012 as well.”
Shelton said Delmarva is just one of many utility companies around the country looking at new technology options to help residents use less energy.
“Efficiency has been the forgotten fuel,” she said. “It’s time we make a conscious effort to think outside the box on ways to safe energy and protect the environment.”
