Oncor Requests Stimulus Funds for Smart Meters
By energy_linguist, July 1, 2009, News
The Dallas Morning News reported on Tuesday that North Texas' Oncor, a transmission company that maintains power lines, announced plans to apply for $317 million in federal stimulus money to purchase smart meters.
One immediate positive from purchasing the meters via stimulus money is that Oncor customers could see a noticeably lower fee for buying a smart meter.
Details for the plan:
- $200 million up front and by first week of August to purchase meters.
- Additional $117 million for network support and system maintenance.
- Oncor is aiming for a 2012 goal for all smart meters to be installed.
- Federal funds are exclusively for new meters that meet PUC standards, not existing meters that were purchased and installed in 2008.
A smart meter you ask? Let me detail some of the features that a smart meter offers:
- Customers receive real-time information on energy consumption so you can adjust energy habits accordingly.
- Two-way communications capability that allows Oncor to read meters remotely and improve monitoring of power outages to reduce number and duration.
- Real-time pricing versus estimated readings and prices that do not adjust for peak and off-peak demand.
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