{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Citizens Utility Board","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org","title":"Smart Grid: What you need to know | Citizens Utility Board","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"yJlxuMcUDF\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/smart-grid-need-know\/\">Smart Grid: What you need to know<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/smart-grid-need-know\/embed\/#?secret=yJlxuMcUDF\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Smart Grid: What you need to know&#8221; &#8212; Citizens Utility Board\" data-secret=\"yJlxuMcUDF\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","description":"[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;]","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/ComEdSmartMeter_200.jpg"}