Your PUD
News Release
Automated electric meters may be on the horizon
Chelan County PUD
News Release
10/1/2007
Starting next year, the first batch of electric meters in Chelan County could be read automatically over the PUD’s fiber-optic network or with other technology, reported Customer Service Director John Stoll.
During an informational presentation to the board Monday, Stoll discussed the benefits of an automated system, including increased reliability, decreased outage times, increased bill accuracy and reduced emissions from vehicles now on the road to read about 45,000 meters each month manually.
Customers could also have up-to-the-minute information about their power use, encouraging conservation.
The automated meters would send a signal to PUD substations over existing power lines. Then the signal could speed to PUD offices over fiber or other technology for billing or troubleshooting.
The PUD could also send a signal to the customer meter. For example, with the touch of a button, the PUD could turn off power at a customer’s request, or switch on power for a new service.
If approved by commissioners, a full build-out of the project could cost $12.5-15 million and take about four years.
Stoll recommended to commissioners that the PUD test the system in 2008 with a small substation in the county, requiring about $1.5 million in the 2008 budget. Commissioners won’t decide on the budget until December.
“This is a big project,” said Stoll, “…but it certainly opens the door for a lot of efficiency.”
Automated water meters were installed for all PUD water customers last year, and could tie into an automated electric system.
Climate-change principles approved for PUD
Chelan County PUD commissioners Monday adopted seven principles to protect and enhance the role that hydropower should play in climate change policy.
Commissioners thanked staff for being proactive on the issue.
The seven principles commissioners support are:
- Hydropower is renewable and should be included as an eligible renewable resource under a national renewable portfolio standard
- Demonstrable increases in incremental hydropower, including equipment and operational efficiency improvements, should be encouraged as “offsetting” greenhouse gases
- Emissions legislation must include all sectors of the economy and protect our ratepayers
- Emissions legislation should allocate allowances to assure future investments in renewable energy, efficiency improvements and conservation
- Emissions legislation should credit utilities for their past accomplishments in renewables, energy efficiency, and customer conservation and support the development of new technologies
- Government grants, loans and incentives should be available to promote renewable efficiency improvements
- Tax-based or other incentives for the development and deployment of renewable and clean energy facilities and programs should be provided on a comparable basis to all electric industry sectors including public power
In other business, PUD commissioners:
- Received an update on the PUD’s fiber-optic program. Staff reported that revenues are at around $3 million year-to-date, with $4.2 million projected for the year, and that 22,000 customers have fiber-optic service available to them. Through August, about 6,200 have signed up for service through local service providers. In 2008, more rural areas including Plain, Lake Wenatchee and the Entiat Valley are planned to receive service.
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Commissioners will hold a special meeting at noon on Thursday, Oct. 4, at Icicle Ridge Winery to meet with members of the Peshastin/Dryden Customer Partnership Group.
The next regular meeting of the PUD commission is at 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 8, in the boardroom at PUD headquarters, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org.
Christy Shearer
Communications Audio-visual Specialist
Chelan County PUD
509.661.4258 office
509.421.4258 cell
509.661.8133 fax
christy.shearer@chelanpud.org