Southern California Edison (SCE) began its massive smart meter installation program on September 14.  Eventually, a total of 5 million smart meters will be installed within the utility’s SmartConnect scheme.  The new meters are able to securely transmit energy usage information bi-directionally, and in real time.

Once the project is fully in place, SCE’s customers will be able to track exactly how much energy they are consuming and how much it costs.  SCE is leading the way towards transforming America’s power grid into the smart grid of the future.

“More than 100 years ago, Southern California Edison installed some of the world’s first electricity meters,” said Lynda Ziegler, senior vice president of customer service at SCE.  “Today, we’re proud to launch the new generation of meters that provide customers with new options and information to help them better manage their energy use.”

SmartConnect is a $1.6 billion program that has been approved by the California Public Utilities Commission.  All of the smart meters transmit data using the ZigBee wireless standard. This easily implemented protocol supports constant two-way communications between consumer and energy provider without using much processing power or energy.

The utility believes that the project will result in energy conservation amounting to 1 gigawatt – an amount comparable to the output of a typical power plant in a year’s time.  Additionally, the reduction of carbon emissions and other pollutants is expected to be reduced by at least 365,000 tons a year – equal to the removal of 79,000 cars from California’s busy highways.

The installations began just outside of Los Angeles in Downey, California.  SCE has a service territory covering 50,000 square miles and will continue installing smart meters for all of its residential and small business customers for the next three years.

Itron is supplying the smart meters for the installation program complete with advanced features that allow for future technologies to be integrated down the road.  These smart meters can interact with the latest smart thermostats, smart appliances, and other devices.  Itron will be responsible for supplying 80 percent of the devices – over 4 million units – stemming from a $480 million agreement.

The meters make operations easier for SCE as well.  The utility can remotely switch on electric service – eliminating the need to dispatch expensive work crews.  SCE will also introduce new pricing plans and other services that will allow its customers to supervise how they are using energy like never before.  For the first time, customers can make informed decisions on how they are using electricity.  SCE expects many of these cutting-edge features to come online in the second half of 2010.

Corix Utilities will handle most of the installations.  Customers will be notified ahead of time by mail when installations are scheduled for their neighbourhood.  Since power can be switched on and off remotely, customers don’t have to be home but they do need to make sure there is clear access to the meter.

Southern California Edison
P.O. Box 6400
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729  
http://www.sce.com

Itron
2111 N Molter Road
Liberty Lake, Washington 99019
United States
http://www.itron.com

Corix Utilities
126 N. Jefferson Street
Suite 300
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
http://www.corix.com

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