Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need new meters?
These state-of-the-art meters will help us improve your service and provide you with many immediate benefits as well as benefits for years to come. Once installed, your new meter will be equipped for the future and, over time, will be a powerful tool that gives you better control over your energy use and your bill.
Will I have my meter replaced?
Yes. SMUD plans to replace meters at all homes and businesses by the end of 2011.
How are the new meters different than the old meters?
The new SMUD smart meters measure your energy use with digital technology that enables SMUD to read your meter remotely. Smart meters are paving the way for more efficient use of electricity. Smart meters will enable SMUD to provide even better service when you contact us and, eventually, will enable us to provide you with the information and tools that give you better control over your energy use and your bill.
Will the new meter cost me anything?
No. The new meters will not cost you anything. They are part of SMUD's operations. Over time, we expect the meters to provide efficiencies that will actually help us save money and maintain some of the lowest rates in California.
Will my bill go up because of the new meter?
No. The new meter will not increase your bill. The first bill you receive following installation will have additional line items to reflect your energy use up to when your old meter is removed, and then when the new meter is installed. These line items do not represent an increase in costs or rates. Your monthly bill will continue to reflect the normal fluctuations in your energy use, and the transition between winter and summer rates.
Your bill will also be impacted by a three-step increase in SMUD's electricity rates approved in June 2009. An increase of 5.5% was implemented in September 2009. A second increase of 5.5% took effect in March 2010. A 2.25% increase will be effective on January 1, 2011. These increases are not used to cover the costs of the meters. The costs associated with the new meters will be covered through reductions in ongoing operating costs resulting from the smart meters.
As a policy, SMUD does not estimate bills unless an estimate is required when a read cannot be obtained due to temporary access or safety issues. When an estimate is required, it is clearly identified on the bill. Only a very small number of bills are estimated for customers with either traditional meters or smart meters.
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Have the new meters been tested to make sure they are accurate?
Yes. The new meters have been extensively tested by both the manufacturer and SMUD. SMUD also tests meters in each shipment it receives before accepting shipment. SMUD will also be performing tests and closely monitoring the first 75,000 meters installed, including continuing to manually read the new meters, to make sure they are operating properly before installing smart meters at all homes and businesses, planned to start by 2011.
How long will the installation take?
Installation of a meter only takes a few minutes. SMUD expects to replace the meters and all homes and business by the end of 2011.
Do I need to be home to have my meter replaced?
No. You do not need to be home when the new meter is installed. However, technicians will need unobstructed access to your meter.
Will SMUD be installing my new meter?
Meter installation will be done by Utility Partners of America (UPA), a SMUD contractor. In limited situations, a SMUD technician may install your new meter.
Will my power be out when you change my meter?
Yes. There will be a brief interruption in service during installation. You may need to reset your alarm clocks and other devices with digital clocks and timers.
Will the new meter interfere with my home electronics?
No. The new meters are designed not to interfere with your home electronics. In the future, the new meters may be able to help you determine which electronics are using the most energy in your home, giving you more control over your bill.
What if I have a Blue Line PowerCost Monitor?
If you have a Blue Line PowerCost Monitor or anything connected to your meter, please remove it prior to installation of your new smart meter. Please do not attach the PowerCost Monitor to your new smart meter. We'll send you additional information regarding the compatibility of the PowerCost Monitor and the smart meters. For more information about Blue Line PowerCost Monitors, click here.
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How will I know the meter has changed?
You will receive a letter in the mail to notify you when your meter will be replaced and we'll leave you a door hanger with information the day your meter is replaced.
What if SMUD can't change my meter?
If the technician is unable to replace your meter will we leave a door hanger with information and additional instructions.
What are the immediate benefits of the new meters?
Following extensive testing of the first 75,000 meters installed, we plan to start installing meters to all homes and businesses in 2011. At that time, customers with smart meters will start to see a number of benefits, including:
- Your energy use data will be securely transmitted to SMUD. This alone provides a number of efficiencies that will help us reduce costs.
- Since meter readers will no longer be required to read every meter once a month, we'll reduce the number of vehicles on the road – helping to reduce pollution, fuel consumption, and traffic.
- When you visit smud.org, you will have access to "yesterday's energy use today." This can help you make more informed and immediate decisions on how to save on your electric bill.
What are the long term benefits of the new meters?
Smart meters will enable SMUD to adapt to advances in technology to gain efficiencies in our operations and provide you with many additional benefits in the future. Just some of the benefits you can expect are:
- Being able to identify when your home is using the most energy and what it's costing you, giving you more control over your bill.
- Accurately track what appliances or other equipment are costing you the most. Then make changes, at your discretion, to make your home more energy efficient.
- The smart meters will also help SMUD better pinpoint power outages to restore power as quickly as possible.
- We expect to identify additional benefits over time that give you more direct control over your electricity use and your bill.
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Will my energy use information remain confidential and safe?
Yes. Your energy use information will be safely transmitted over secure servers to SMUD. The company that provides SMUD's wireless network uses the same types of security as the Department of Defense and the online banking industry. Electronic transmission of your energy use data provides for more accurate billing and improved customer service.
How do the new meters help the environment?
The new meters help the environment in several ways. Since meter readers will no longer need to read every meter each month that will reduce pollution, fuel consumption, and traffic. Also, because of the information the meters will provide, you will be able to make decisions about using less energy, at your discretion, which can reduce the amount of electricity demand.
How do I read my smart meter?
The smart meter uses a digital readout alternating between four different displays. The number in the corner represents the type of information being displayed. To capture your energy use, you will need to use display 020 showing your energy use in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
To know how much energy you're using, record a reading then record a reading at a later date and subtract the difference. For example, you record 1260 today. At a later date, you record 1810. Subtract your first read from your second to get your energy use of 550 kWh (1810-1260=550 kWh used during that time period). For more information understanding your bill, click here.
Do smart meters generate radio frequency (RF) fields?
Yes. Smart meters emit about 1 watt. This is less than the 1 to 2 watts emitted by cell phones or wireless routers. Smart meters transmit radio signals only once every four hours with each transmission lasting only 50 milliseconds (0.05 seconds or 5/100ths of one second).
Due to the low power of each meter, and the need for each smart meter to create a network to function, each smart meter may acts as a "repeater" (part of the communication chain) for adjacent meters. However, they do so only 2 percent of the time on average.
Dedicated pole-top repeaters are also used to carry signals from smart meters. Pole mounted network access points in neighborhoods communicate with smart meters less than a total of 24 minutes a day or for four minutes during each 4 hour period. This equipment is usually located well above ground level on light poles, utility poles or on other infrastructure.
Are smart meter RF fields safe?
Yes. Key factors for exposure risk are the power and frequency of the emission and the distance from a person. Smart meters emit only about 1 watt and, when installed, no transmitter is located within the home. Cell phones are considered riskier since they're held to the head.
Although SMUD's smart meters meet all FCC testing and certification, SMUD is also taking the extra step of including vigorous RF testing during the initial rollout.
Aggregate RF field levels in neighborhoods where smart meters are installed are expected to also be very low and are below the levels established by applicable FCC RF exposure rules or the RF produced by other sources in the neighborhood.
A group of meters located at the same location, such as might be the arrangement at a multi-family housing complex, for example, will produce a cumulative RF field that is greater than what would be produced by a single meter, but because the meter transmitters operate at such low levels, even the aggregate amount would be low in comparison to applicable FCC RF exposure rules or the RF produced by other sources in the neighborhood.
Will smart meter RF fields interfere with my electronics or medical devices?
SMUD's smart meters have been certified by the FCC and should not interfere with devices in or around your home.
For information about FCC guidelines regarding RF exposure, click here.
For a smart meter fact sheet, click here.
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