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California utility installs first of 5 million smart meters

This week Californian utility Southern California Edison (SCE) installed the first of 5 million smart meters, which the company is rolling out to its residential and small business customers.

The installation programme, which is part of the company’s $1.6 billion Edison SmartConnect scheme, will continue through 2012.

The digital smart meters from Itron enable secure, two-way communication between the customer and the utility, providing up-to-the minute information on electricity usage.

When the system is fully implemented, the smart meters will allow customers to see how much electricity they are using and what it is costing.

SCE says it will be introducing new pricing plans, programmes and services in the second half of 2010 to capitalise on the capabilities of smart meters and enable customers to make “decisions about their energy use”.

The company estimates that the installation of smart meters could reduce demand by up to 1000 MW, which equates to an average power plant.

For further information:
www.sce.com/smartconnect
www.itron.com/

16 September 2009

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