Oncor installs its two millionth smart meter in Dallas suburb, has now installed two-thirds of its planned deployment of 3 million advanced smart meters to customers

Rachel Carter

DALLAS , August 22, 2011 (press release) – Installation marks significant milestone in systemwide deployment of advanced meters

Oncor installed its two millionth advanced meter in Carrollton, a suburb of Dallas. The company, which began installing advanced meters in 2008, has completed approximately two-thirds of its planned advanced meter deployment throughout its service area.

“This is a significant milestone in our efforts to install more than 3 million advanced meters throughout our service area by the end of 2012,” said Oncor Senior Vice President of Asset Management and Engineering Jim Greer. “Advanced meters empower customers to better monitor their energy usage and manage their energy consumption which, ultimately, can help them control costs and reduce their impact on the environment.”

Oncor’s advanced meters record energy usage in 15-minute intervals, giving customers with advanced meters access to daily and cumulative energy usage information online through the state’s Smart Meter Texas™ web portal, www.smartmetertexas.com. Customers can also review their usage information – as well as their carbon footprint and prices per kilowatt hour – in near real time via energy management devices such as in-home monitors (IHMs) and other home area network (HAN) devices. Customers should contact their Retail Electric Provider to learn what services are offered using advanced meter information to help them become a more informed consumer.

Earlier this month, Oncor, along with Grid21 and CenterPoint Energy, launched the Biggest Energy SaverSM Consumer Contest, which rewards customers who use data from their advanced meter to sustainably change their habits and reduce their energy usage. Among Oncor customers using information from their advanced meters, 80 percent have already taken action to help reduce their electric bills. Qualified registered contestants could win prizes, including a new plug-in electric Chevy Volt or a suite of GE Profile “smart appliances.” Sign up now for the Biggest Energy Saver Consumer Contest at BiggestEnergySaver.com/win. There is no cost or extended commitment to participate in the contest.

Studies worldwide demonstrate that consumers with easily accessible information on how they use electricity and what it costs save five to 15 percent on their energy costs. Based on this data and current customer consumption patterns, Oncor estimates customers within its service area could collectively save up to $250 million annually and reduce the need for up to a dozen new power plants over the next decade.

In May 2008, Oncor launched the SMART TEXAS Mobile Experience Center to educate customers about its advanced meter installation efforts. The 1,000-square-foot mobile exhibit, which includes smart appliances and in-home monitor (IHM) and home area network (HAN) demonstrations, has reached more than 85,000 customers and traveled thousands of miles introducing Texans to the increased capabilities and customer benefits of advanced meters.

Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (“Oncor”) is a regulated electricity distribution and transmission business that uses superior asset management skills to provide reliable electricity delivery to consumers. Oncor operates the largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, delivering power to more than 3 million homes and businesses and operating approximately 118,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines in Texas. While Oncor is owned by a limited number of investors (including majority owner, Energy Future Holdings Corp.), Oncor is managed by its Board of Directors, which is comprised of a majority of independent directors.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.