Utilities Tech Outlook Weekly Brief
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The world has completely transformed into a digital era. As a result of this, various digitally connected devices are becoming more popular. The smart electric meter is the best example of this scenario. Smart electric meters do not only show the energy usage of the consumers but also display other information like when they used it and the device that consumed the energy. Thus, most of the electric utility companies are replacing the analog meters with new and updated smart electric meters.
Being a digitally connected device, smart electric meters provide many accurate measurements within a short span of time. Therefore, this technology reduces the monthly bills and home visits by the meter readers. Some people criticize that in some occasions, smart meters are collecting unwanted information about the electricity use and this will be a privacy violation.
Similar to other technologies, smart electric meters also have several advantages and disadvantages. This technology ensures efficient use of power resources and provides real-time data that will be helpful to balance the electric loads while reducing the power outages. It also reduces the cost of electricity usage and ensures dynamic pricing. This device will make the customers adjust their habits and reduce their electricity usage and eventually decrease their electricity bills.
The smart electric meter can ensure some environmental benefits too. It reduces pollution created by vehicles by analyzing the meter readings. It can also generate reading about the greenhouse gas emissions from the power plants.
There are also several other concerns for consumers. Sometimes, it is difficult to determine whether the meter is accurate or not. While collecting all the data about the customer’s energy usage, there is no assurance for the privacy of the personal data collected. To have the new meter installed, the customers need to pay an additional fee as an installation charge.
Apart from a customer’s perspective, the smart electric meters eliminate the requirement of the workforce that is otherwise needed to take readings from the analog meters. For this reason, many people have lost their jobs in this field, and most of them could not get new ones based on their skills. However, the transformation from analog meters to the digital meters has given a new way of utilizing the energy, and this becomes a very effective platform in taking measurements of the electronic devices with its power usage.
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