Betsy Loeff, contributing writer
Here's a bit of irony: I'd planned to write about how electric utilities are using advanced metering and other technologies to deliver better customer service by speeding up restoration when power is out. And, just as I sat down at the computer, the power went out. Right then, I knew my story's premise was spot on: Improving restoration times does, indeed, translate into better customer service from electric utilities. …The team at Mid-Carolina Electric Co-op (MCEC) can ping their 50,000 customer meters to pinpoint trouble spots or verify if outage calls require a technician's visit. "There are any number of reasons we can get an erroneous telephone report about an outage," notes Lee Ayers, system engineer for MCEC. He says it's not uncommon for people to hit wrong buttons when interacting with the interactive voice response system, and it is IVR calls that feed the utility's outage-management system. (MCEC’s outage management is provided by Aclara.)
PPL Electric Utilities has introduced a new feature on its Web site that allows customers to track their hourly energy use on the Internet.
The Allentown company's customers have been able to track their daily electric use since last year. But the new feature that shows hourly electric use can help customers experiment with energy saving efforts, such as lowering the temperature on thermostats for electric heaters, to see what kind of difference it makes, PPL said. NEW YORK (AP) _ New York City says a $68 million effort to modernize its water meters will help save money and water by flagging leaks fast.
The Department of Environmental Protection announced plans Wednesday to install a wireless, automatic meter-reading system citywide.
The network will measure customers' water use four times a day. Readings are now taken four times a year, meaning leaks sometimes linger undetected.
DEP says a leaking toilet can waste 250 gallons a day _ about $640 a year.
The agency says the new system will spot spikes in water use and alert customers to check for leaks. It's expected to take three years to install.
DEP says staff meter-readers will shift to other tasks. The agency also pays Consolidated Edison to read meters but expects to stop.
June 05, 2008 – Boston Business Journal
Aclara Software was cited this week by the Boston Business Journal as being one of the leading Clean Tech companies in the Boston area. Cleantech or clean technology is the growing set of technologies, products or services aimed at improving performance, productivity or efficiency while reducing energy and operating costs, as well as waste or pollution. "This new service, developed by Aclara Software Inc., gives customers access to an abundance of energy-related information. Customers will have direct access to their utility account to perform a bill analysis, to determine how their home uses energy, to analyze their appliances and to find out how their home energy use compares with similar homes in their area. In addition to the detailed analysis of their usage, customers can access tools and recommendations on how to reduce their consumption along with the annual savings they can achieve."
"This software is a valuable service for our customers. We strongly urge all of our customers to identify ways to reduce their energy consumption to save money and improve their overall energy efficiency," said Edward J. Graham, president and CEO of South Jersey Gas." February 2008 – Chartwell Industry Update: Products, Services & Programs
DTE Energy and Dominion Virginia Power each added energy analyzers from Aclara Software (formerly Nexus Energy Software). DTE’s goal was to provide advice on how to save money specific to each customer’s home. MyEnergy Analyzer includes both a bill-analyzing tool and an energy efficiency tool. In addition to identifying factors that cause energy bills to go up or down, it allows customers to compare bills and see their billing history. February 2008 – Chartwell Industry Update: Metering and multiple publications, including:
www.electricenergyonline.com
Utility Products Magazine
Energy Central
Six electric utility cooperatives recently signed agreements to install the Aclara Two-Way Automatic Communications System (TWACS) AMI solution, one of the Aclara-brand technologies of ESCO Technologies Inc. The new contracts are with Stearns Electric Association, Melrose, MN; Bandera Electric, Bandera, TX; Black River Electric, Fredericktown, MO; Tri-County Electric, Hooker, OK; CMS Electric, Meade, KS; and Lyntegar Electric, Tahoka, TX. |