Smart meter

Re: Smart meter

Smart meter can send all kinds of info about your electric useage to the power company. It is done by RF link.

Beside providing them with your power use profile every 15 minutes to hour it also reports line voltage.

For PV setup with grid tied feed, first it reports any unauthorized power push to grid. It also will tell the power company how much you are pushing to grid and when.

One of the controversial features is the reporting of power factor to the utility. It is just a matter of time when they have data to convince the public service commission to allow them to charge residential customers for poor power factor loads. The system can be programmed to charge based on appearent power instead of true power measured. They will likely get a tariff surcharge for power factors poorer then about 0.8 or so. This is about the PF level for older air conditioners pushing the customers to upgrade to higher efficiency air conditioners.

Most power companies don't have all the computer backbone software installed to do all these things yet, but will soon. In mid October, my utility, FPL, now reports hourly consumption that can be viewed by subscribers by logging into their web site.

There are some lawsuits filed in several states trying to block their installation claiming invasion of privacy with the smart meters. Some suits are claiming health hazard due to RF radiation.

Re: Smart meter

The smart meter at my place has 2 separate readings. reading A and reading b. They both move forward. One reading is how much you put into the grid. Other reading is what you actualy consume in your house. I still have a meter reader coming to read the meter. When they figure out your bill they they take the reading of how much you produced and subtract the meter reading of how much you consumed. They bank any excess for you in your account. If you use more than what you produced they subtract from your account. If you don,t have enough in your account to cover your usage you get billed for that amount. In my case my electric co. Charges $10.00 per month to be connected. I worryed about both readings increasing but had it explained to me when I called the billing department. And I only have 1 meter not 2 like some think. Could be different for different power companys but that is the way mine works. Penn Power, part of First Energy. :Dsolarvic:D

Re: Smart meter

Remember a " Net Meter " what you see is a net number. You could think your producing a lot, but be using it in your house. My smart meter has 4 different readings that flash on in a repeating sequence.

1) Meter Reading started at 99999 when they installed the meter. it's now 97000 that means I have 3000 kwh banked. This one goes both ways, shows in and out.

2) kwh used , This what I use of their electricity

3) kwh received , This what they receive from me. ( this a NET number ) What I produce, minus what I use in the house.

4) Max kw Produced , Mine was set at 8.2 ( the size of my system ) They can tell if I would add to the system without authorization.

Re: Smart meter

I agree with you if that number is something they use in their calculations. On mine it does change on the in received and used. That Total Number on the meter is not shown on my bill anywhere. The bill has " Member Used " and " Member Generated ". It's like mixing apples and oranges, I am on a co-op. The meter uses one set of terms and the electric company uses another.