Motivating Energy Efficiency with Metering Technologies

Published By U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Published January 2008
• 8 Page(s)

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) initiatives are gaining popularity in the states as an important tool to modernize the electricity grid, reduce peak demand and reach energy efficiency goals. Often called Smart Metering, AMI is part of the foundation for utilities to implement a new “smart grid”1 that can minimize the need for additional power generation facilities and transmission lines. AMI uses technology to capture and transmit energy use information on an hourly, and sometimes sub-hourly, basis to a central collection point (DPSC 2006). In contrast, standard meters provide a daily electricity usage total and a cumulative monthly billed amount that is determined by multiplying total usage by a fixed, non-time sensitive price (DRAM 2004). The new advanced metering systems currently account for about 6% of all meters in the U.S. (FERC 2006).