Look beyond meter-to-cash for smart metering benefits

Meter-to-cash (M2C) is one of the most common business justifications for deploying smart meters and meter data management (MDM) platforms. But MDM is much more than just M2C. MDM can comprise several strategies that help utilities increase revenues and reduce costs, not just through the billing system.

Full post: Meter-to-cash: What it is, and why it’s only the starting point for smart meter benefits

Sandy recovery: smart meters help get the power back on

Hurricane Sandy has caused the second largest storm-related power outage in U.S. history, extending to 8.1 million customers — around 25 million people. We extend our thoughts and prayers to all those affected. Only Hurricane Irene in 2011 knocked out more customers: 9.3 million, including in Puerto Rico.

Utility crews from across the eastern half of the U.S. are helping get the power back on in affected areas. While they can’t do anything about downed power lines, smart meters are helping as well.

Full post: Sandy recovery: smart meters help U.S. rebound from power outages

How smart meters can fix the DST time ward

For me, the hardest thing about the end of Daylight Saving Time (Nov. 4 in the US) will be getting up in the morning. But for millions of electric meters, DST causes much bigger problems — because Congress has a tendency to tinker with DST.

DST and time-of-use rate periods are examples of “details” that can yield tremendous smart meter-related headaches if not handled properly…

Full post: Fixing the DST time warp

New rules in Brazil support smart meter rollouts

This summer Brazil’s energy regulator ANEEL released its specifications for smart meter deployment. Contrary to expectations, ANEEL did not mandate a general smart meter rollout. Rather, the agency defined a set of rules and norms to achieve certain objectives — and smart meters are essential to achieve three key goals…

Full post, by Alicia Carrasco: Brazil: New rules will support smart meter rollouts

NSW, Australia: Smart meters, time-of-use prices could aid demand response

In the southern hemisphere, summertime is approaching — so temperatures and peak energy demand soon will be soaring in Sydney and other parts of the Australian state of New South Wales. A new report from the NSW government’s Productivity Commission recommends several reforms that could help Australian utilities manage peak demand while rewarding consumers for aiding this effort…

Full post: Hot Australian summers? Government commission recommends smart meters, time-of-use prices

Smart grid advice: new NRDC paper

A new white paper from the the Natural Resources Defense Council shows how the smart grid can support large-scale clean energy and conservation benefits, and otherwise help the environment. This paper also addressed some smart grid concerns and offered some recommendations for smart grid implementation.

Full post: Smart Grid Advice from the Natural Resources Defense Council

UK: smart meters save energy through learning and action

Last week, at a London meeting on smart metering and consumer empowerment, a top official from the new U.K. Energy Efficiency Deployment Office said that smart metering is “one of the most efficient energy efficiency measures — and it pays for itself.”

This mirrors my belief that learning and acting should be recognized as energy efficiency, because they drive change that reduces energy waste…

Full post by Alicia Carrasco: Smart meters: How learning and acting save energy

No smart meter opt-outs for Wisconsin, PSC says

Last week the Wisconsin Public Service Commission decided not to allow customers to opt out of smart meter installations. In this case, the subject was smart meters for water utilities; elsewhere around the U.S., most similar cases have concerned electric meters.

The Wisconsin decision mirrors that of some other jurisdictions…

Full post on Siemens Smart Grid Watch blog: Wisconsin Public Service Commission rejects smart meter opt-outs

Positive business case for smart meters in Northern Ireland

Congratulations to Northern Ireland, which has joined the club of over 30 states and countries with positive business cases for smart meters.

Recently the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment released the region’s smart meter cost-benefit analysis. Implementing smart meters for the nearly 1 million electricity customers there is expected to yield net savings of up to £56 million ($87 million at the current exchange rate).

Full post, by Alicia Carrasco: Northern Ireland’s positive business case for smart meters

London Olympics: Monitoring energy consumption

The Summer Olympics in London are said to be the greenest olympics ever. A website by the U.K. utility EDF Energy, Power the Games Live, compares electricity consumption at Olympic facilities, such as the Velodrome, to some of London’s best known landmarks, such as theTower Bridge.

Here’s how this site works…

Full post, by Alicia Carrasco: Monitoring energy consumption at the London Olympics