| Smart Meters- Figuring Out if they help Save Money |
| Articles - Savings |
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If you haven't heard about smart meters they are used to transmit information without any manually reading. The idea is that these electronic power meters are to help us save tons of money because they offer more accuracy and overall savings that the big power companies are supposed pass on to us. The question is whether or not they can really do it. Some believe it's just a way to help the electric companies save more money. So today we want to look at smart meters and who will actually benefit from them.
If you haven't heard about smart meters they are used to transmit information without any manually reading. The idea is that these electronic power meters are to help us save tons of money because they offer more accuracy and overall savings that the big power companies are supposed pass on to us. The question is whether or not they can really do it. Some believe it's just a way to help the electric companies save more money. So today we want to look at smart meters and who will actually benefit from them. Soon you will be able to find these electricity meters in the United States. It's said that we will be able to save all kinds of energy when we do. Right now they are only found in a small fraction of the 3,000 utility companies across the country. We have heard they are already in Ontario, and will be across the country soon. They are going to take place of the regular meters which are used today. The way a smart meter works is it sends data by radio signal to the power company, who in turn will send information back to the meter on what to do next. It allows for an easier way to attract your usage and save more money throughout the year. If you look at the pricing standard right now, it's very similar between all the industrial users. Back in 2005, the government believed that demand-response pricing was the way to go. By 2010 we will be able to see if they were right when 40 million smart meters are delivered. So, are you still wondering how this makes it all cheaper for you? The difference is being able to look at the pricing in real time. This gives you the opportunity to see how much you are using and the amount, which will allow you to make choices that can allow for more or less usage. For instance; when the rates are low you might believe it's time to do a little more laundry or broil those ribs in the oven for a few hours. In the end it's possible that these could be the key to intelligent and informed choices regarding electricity. So both you and the planet will benefit from the experience. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Author: Jerry Dyess has written article for the Texas Electricity market for the past 7 years. Get more information on Texas Electric rates. |