PECO ‘smart’ meters to help resolve power outages, help consumers save

PECO is getting smarter meters. Last month, the company began installing the latest in meter technology, said PECO spokeswoman Cathy Engel Menendez:

“Typically what designates a smart meter is the ability to remotely read the meter,” she said/ “For PECO customers, we’ve had that technology in our marketplace for over 10 years. The difference really with these new meters is, it provides two-way communication for customers.”

With the new technology, PECO will be able to help customers save energy, and save money, she said.

“What is different is our ability to give customers more information about how they’re using energy,” she said. “Down the road, sometime next year, we’re going to roll out a new web tool where customers will be able to see how they are using energy and what times of day they’re using the most energy.”

Engel Menendez said customers then will be able to adjust their energy use to the times of the day when energy prices are lower.

The smart meters are part of a much broader upgrade that will be helpful in weather emergencies.

“The meters also, by having that two-way communication function, can help us a lot during storms and other emergencies really to give us, as the energy delivery company, more information about power outages, the parameters of them, what’s causing certain power outages,” she said. “And that, of course, is going to help us get the lights on faster for customers.”