Advanced Metering Infrastructure
Over the past few years, Southern Company subsidiaries have rolled out the Smart Meter program, an automated electronic metering and meter communication system designed to monitor home and business energy usage.
By the end of 2010, we had deployed more than 3.1 million of a planned 4.6 million smart meters throughout our service territory. We plan to install more than 800,000 meters in 2011 and expect to complete the majority of the installations by 2012.
Smart meters will serve as the last link of a communications connection with our customers. In the future, this link will be able to provide online access to detailed usage and pricing information. Once the program is installed, we’ll be able to offer innovative rate options that meet the lifestyles of our customers. Customers will be able to better manage their energy use and control their energy bill.
What is advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)?
Automatic meter reading using advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is the remote collection of customer data.
It involves the following components, depicted below:
- Meters capable of sending the current reading to a data collector or concentrator, often located in the neighborhood or nearby.
- A wide-area-communication network to transfer (or “backhaul”) the data to the utility’s offices from the data collector.
- A control system to receive, collect and manage this data.
- Software to condition and present the data to the utility’s billing and other information systems.
Why is Southern Company installing AMI?
Our decision to deploy smart meters is driven primarily by the cost savings
associated with monthly meter reading and off-cycle readings.
Once smart meters are installed and systems are fully enabled, they will
provide detailed customer energy usage information (for both the utility
and customers) and the ability to design/offer more sophisticated rate
options as well as meter-based products and/or services.
Consumers can use this information to manage their energy usage and/or choose a service that provides a benefit. Utilities will be able to better manage their systems by having enhanced outage notification and restoration information as well as other operational data, such as voltage at metering points on the distribution line.
Benefits of AMI
Current smart meter benefits include:
- Ability to read our customers’ meters and generate bills without visiting their property.
- Ability to check a meter remotely to ensure it is working properly.
- Enhanced ability to respond promptly to meter service requests.
- Reduced number of vehicles on the road, thus, increased environmental benefits and fuel-cost savings.
Future smart meter benefits include:
- As smart meters are installed and enabled, the time needed to handle service orders, such as starting or stopping power, will be reduced.
- Power outage notification — In the event of a power outage, smart meters will help us better manage power restoration.
- Access energy usage information online — Customers will be able to better understand and monitor their own energy use.
- Smart meters will allow us to offer more innovative rate options that better match our customers’ lifestyles.
- The system will help reduce electricity theft.
- Additional features will come as technology advances.