Have you ever found yourself waiting for the meter reader and getting an estimate on what your electric bill is going to cost you? That’s about to be a thing of the past, as more electric suppliers are opting to install smart meters. These new meters manage costs with online access, alerting customers to daily energy usage to get a better grip on their expenses. If your utility company has reached out to you about installing a smart meter, here’s what you can expect.
Easier Activation
When looking to compare electricity providers, be sure to check beyond the lowest price and into the possibility of having a smart meter installed. This is a great long-term solution if you choose to stick with a supplier. Smart meters allow for quick activation by simply providing a code through the utility company. In the event that you move, you can easily switch your existing electric service to the new meter of your residential location.
Smart meters rely on a simplified network, not needing WiFi to log your hours of energy use. This information is kept safe under a central data management system that is designed with privacy in mind. As long as your energy supplier is able to offer services in your new ZIP code, you’ll be able to work to activate your smart meter with ease. It’s important to immediately set up a portal with your electric company to set an account, which will keep tabs on smart meter activity and even keep you in the know on electric rates and potential changes.
Restoring Power
One of the little-known benefits of a smart meter is its resourcefulness in the event of a power outage. Rather than having to call your electric company to let them know that you’ve lost power, smart meters alert electric providers to the outage to help better get to the root of a customer’s energy difficulties. This saves time resolving problems. Smart meter owners can actually learn in real-time about the status of their electric supply. This spans from a single home outage to a blackout that could expand throughout an entire community.
Smart meters send what’s effectively the last message to a utility company’s management system to alert them that the power is going out. This outage data can increase the accuracy of predictions, helping personnel to be ready to accurately react to problems with your electric plan, or throughout an entire block. Smart meters also provide quicker verification of power restoration.
Be sure to take a full assessment of your meter to get an understanding of where you can get this information displayed quickly. In some cases, smart meters can link up to your portal to contact you via text, phone, or e-mail to keep you abreast of the restoration process.
The Greener Choice
Smart meters offer an accurate determination of the amount of electricity your household is using. By no longer having to rely on an estimate, account holders are getting a better grip on their energy rates. This has not only led to energy-saving behaviors but also led the drive towards using renewable energy. Smart meters can sync up with solar energy panels, making for easier integration of green energy options with the right supplier.
If you’re looking into solar energy or other alternates, you may be able to garner rebates for the changes you’re making. Be sure to check the contract terms from your energy provider to make sure that you can make the switch seamlessly. Some providers will even allow you to utilize a smart meter to work with your natural gas company to effectively bundle this data in real-time to better assess your rates.
