{"id":6275,"date":"2016-11-02T15:12:13","date_gmt":"2016-11-02T20:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/?page_id=6275"},"modified":"2020-12-22T16:46:21","modified_gmt":"2020-12-22T22:46:21","slug":"smart-grid-need-know","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/smart-grid-need-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart Grid: What you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Smart Grid: What you need to know&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h6><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><ul class=\"icon \"><li><i class=\"fa fa-caret-right\"><\/i> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/SmartGrid-1.pdf\">PDF version of this fact sheet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]&#8221;Smart grid&#8221; is an umbrella term for high-tech upgrades to our power grid\u2014the lines, wires, and power plants that deliver electricity to our doorstep. The\u00a0system consists of one-way communication, in which electricity is generated and placed onto the power grid for our immediate consumption. A smart grid, however, is\u00a0based on two-way communication, potentially allowing meters to automatically alert the utility of costly problems, and consumers to take advantage of optional pricing plans that could cut their costs. If done correctly, a modernized electric grid could save Illinois consumers billions of dollars by reducing power outages and cutting energy\u00a0waste.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;What Exactly is a Digital Smart Meter?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-6283 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/ComEdSmartMeter_200.jpg\" alt=\"ComEd Smart Meter\" width=\"220\" height=\"273\" \/>A typical electric meter has tiny mechanical dials that someone\u2014you or a utility worker\u2014has to read each month in order to measure a home&#8217;s power usage. There are no dials on a\u00a0&#8220;<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/ciElectric_cubfacts_SmartMeterRF.html\"><strong>smart meter<\/strong><\/span><\/span>.&#8221; It has a digital face, and unlike traditional meters, it can send\u2014automatically and almost instantly\u2014your power usage to the\u00a0utility.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699797969{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Who is Paying for the Upgrades?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]The Energy Infrastructure and Modernization Act, or the &#8220;smart grid&#8221; bill, allows ComEd and Ameren to make $3.2\u00a0billion in upgrades to Illinois&#8217; power grid and creates a new regulatory framework under which consumers pay for those upgrades. While CUB opposed the legislation, the consumer group&#8217;s job moving forward will be making sure customers receive the benefits of a modernized power grid\u2014and not just the\u00a0bill.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699807900{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;When Will I Get a Smart Meter?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]ComEd plans to install 4 million new digital electric meters across northern Illinois by 2018. Find\u00a0the installation schedule <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smartmetermap.comed.com\/smartmeter.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a><\/span>. By 2019, all of Ameren Illinois customers are scheduled to have new meters. See when and where meter upgrades will occur <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/span>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699807900{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;What are the Benefits of Illinois&#8217; Switch to Smart Grid?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1593106719776{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}&#8221;]The new meters could spark exciting innovations, such as sophisticated home energy management systems that allow you to run appliances only when power prices are low. However, a smarter grid has potential benefit for ALL Illinois consumers, even if they don&#8217;t have a high-tech home management system. Practical, everyday benefits\u00a0include:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Eliminating Estimated Bills:<\/strong> Many people don&#8217;t know that the power company can delay reading the electric meter for months at a time and instead estimate a home&#8217;s usage. It&#8217;s one of the most common complaints that CUB receives: &#8220;The electric company underestimated my usage for months, and then slapped me with a huge make-up bill.&#8221; Smart meters will virtually eliminate estimated\u00a0bills.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-6279 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EvilSquirrel.jpg\" alt=\"Squirrel\" width=\"228\" height=\"228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EvilSquirrel-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EvilSquirrel-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EvilSquirrel-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px\" \/>Reducing Power Outages:<\/strong> With the old mechanical meters, power companies often don&#8217;t even know there is a blackout until customers notify them. Digital smart meters could alert the utility immediately about a power outage in your neighborhood, and in some cases, automatically fix the problem by rerouting power. Avoiding prolonged power outages could save Illinois consumers hundreds of millions of\u00a0dollars.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Improving Efficiency\/Reliability: <\/strong>Electricity theft and powering vacant office space\u2014extra costs that the utilities slap on all customers\u2014could be more easily detected and prevented with smart meters. So could unaccounted energy\u2014when customers move into a new home and use electricity before an account has been\u00a0started.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stopping Waste:<\/strong> Experts estimate that less than half of the\u00a0power generated may actually reach consumers\u2014a large portion of it is simply lost on the way to your home. A smarter power grid would use sensors to detect inefficiencies in the system, reducing this &#8220;line\u00a0loss.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-6280 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/RealTimePricing_Graph.jpg\" alt=\"realtimepricing_graph\" width=\"272\" height=\"167\" \/>New pricing plans:<\/strong> Digital meters pave the way for creative pricing plans that can help consumers not only lower their bills, but reduce power prices for everyone. Even a small reduction in \u201cpeak demand\u201d\u2014 electricity our nation\u2019s homes and businesses devour at the busiest part of the day\u2014would make a big diff erence on our power bills. Standard Illinois electric rates charge most of us a rigid, fl at rate that gives consumers absolutely no fl exibility to take advantage of how cheap the market price for electricity is during \u201coff -peak\u201d times. But the new meters allow widespread participation in programs such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/comed-hourly-pricing-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>ComEd\u2019s Hourly Pricing<\/strong><\/span><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/ameren-power-smart-pricing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Ameren\u2019s Power Smart Pricing<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, which charge customers an hourly rate. Other optional programs made possible with the smart grid are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/electric_peaktimesavings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>ComEd\u2019s Peak Time Savings<\/strong><\/span><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/electric_amerenpeaktime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Ameren\u2019s Peak Time Rewards<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, which give you a bill credit for shifting your electricity usage from peak to off -peak times.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699807900{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Will Smart Meters Give the Utility Control Over My Electric Usage?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]No. The smart grid is about giving customers\u2014not the utility company\u2014control over their power bills. Smart meters do not transmit personal identification information about customers, and they can&#8217;t identify\u2014or control\u2014the appliances you&#8217;re using. Plus, state law mandates that utilities, their contractors or agents, and any third party cannot sell a customer&#8217;s personal information, such as name, address, telephone number, and data about electricity\u00a0usage.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1476909084782{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Are Smart Meters Safe?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]Yes. Digital meters use a low-power wireless radio to periodically communicate energy-usage information to the utility\u2014typically just a few minutes a day. When they are transmitting, they emit low levels of &#8220;Radio Frequency,&#8221; or RF, just like other common household items, including radios, TVs, baby monitors and garage door openers. Decades of research\u2014including reviews from the <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Vermont Department of Health<\/span>, the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a class=\"bluebold\" href=\"https:\/\/www.puc.texas.gov\/industry\/electric\/reports\/smartmeter\/SmartMeter_RF_EMF_Health_12-14-2012.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Texas Public Utilities Commission (PUC)<\/a><\/span><\/strong> and the\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a class=\"bluebold\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ccst.us\/publications\/2011\/2011smart-final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">California Council on Science and Technology (CCST)<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u2014have found no scientific evidence that links health risks to the levels of RF emitted by smart\u00a0meters.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, even if you stood in front of a smart meter for long periods of time, the RF levels would fall far below Federal Communications Commission (FCC) safety standards\u2014typically 70 times less. At 10 feet away, research shows that a digital meter communicating with the utility emits less RF than a laptop computer, a microwave, a coffee shop with Wi-FI\u2014and 300 times less RF than a typical cellphone. And unlike cellphones, you don&#8217;t hold a meter to your ear. The devices often are on the other side of a wall or tucked away in the\u00a0basement.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1476909084782{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;What is CUB&#8217;s Stance on the Smart Grid?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]CUB opposed the law that funded the power grid upgrades, because it was concerned that consumers would pay too much to fund the improvements. However, it sees excellent potential consumer benefi ts from a smarter power grid. CUB\u2019s mission is now to educate consumers about how they can benefi t from the upgrades and to act as a watchdog to make sure ComEd and Ameren live up to their promise and improve the power grid in a way that helps consumers.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Smart Grid: What you need to know&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text] [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]&#8221;Smart grid&#8221; is an umbrella term for high-tech upgrades to our power grid\u2014the lines, wires, and power plants that deliver electricity to our doorstep. The\u00a0system consists of one-way communication, in which electricity is generated and placed onto the power grid for our immediate consumption. A smart grid, however, is\u00a0based on two-way communication, potentially allowing meters to automatically alert the utility of costly problems, and consumers to take advantage of optional pricing plans that could cut their costs. If done correctly, a modernized electric grid could save Illinois consumers billions of dollars by reducing power outages and cutting energy\u00a0waste.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;What Exactly is a Digital Smart Meter?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]A typical electric meter has tiny mechanical dials that someone\u2014you or a utility worker\u2014has to read each month in order to measure a home&#8217;s power usage. There are no dials on a\u00a0&#8220;smart meter.&#8221; It has a digital face, and unlike traditional meters, it can send\u2014automatically and almost instantly\u2014your power usage to the\u00a0utility.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699797969{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Who is Paying for the Upgrades?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]The Energy Infrastructure and Modernization Act, or the &#8220;smart grid&#8221; bill, allows ComEd and Ameren to make $3.2\u00a0billion in upgrades to Illinois&#8217; power grid and creates a new regulatory framework under which consumers pay for those upgrades. While CUB opposed the legislation, the consumer group&#8217;s job moving forward will be making sure customers receive the benefits of a modernized power grid\u2014and not just the\u00a0bill.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699807900{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;When Will I Get a Smart Meter?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]ComEd plans to install 4 million new digital electric meters across northern Illinois by 2018. Find\u00a0the installation schedule here. By 2019, all of Ameren Illinois customers are scheduled to have new meters. See when and where meter upgrades will occur here.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699807900{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;What are the Benefits of Illinois&#8217; Switch to Smart Grid?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1593106719776{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}&#8221;]The new meters could spark exciting innovations, such as sophisticated home energy management systems that allow you to run appliances only when power prices are low. However, a smarter grid has potential benefit for ALL Illinois consumers, even if they don&#8217;t have a high-tech home management system. Practical, everyday benefits\u00a0include: Eliminating Estimated Bills: Many people don&#8217;t know that the power company can delay reading the electric meter for months at a time and instead estimate a home&#8217;s usage. It&#8217;s one of the most common complaints that CUB receives: &#8220;The electric company underestimated my usage for months, and then slapped me with a huge make-up bill.&#8221; Smart meters will virtually eliminate estimated\u00a0bills. Reducing Power Outages: With the old mechanical meters, power companies often don&#8217;t even know there is a blackout until customers notify them. Digital smart meters could alert the utility immediately about a power outage in your neighborhood, and in some cases, automatically fix the problem by rerouting power. Avoiding prolonged power outages could save Illinois consumers hundreds of millions of\u00a0dollars. Improving Efficiency\/Reliability: Electricity theft and powering vacant office space\u2014extra costs that the utilities slap on all customers\u2014could be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6275","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6275"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6275\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}