ST. LOUIS - The solid-state residential revolution for utilities has begun. Utilities are increasingly installing residential solid-state meters in conjunction with implementations of automated meter reading systems. In fact, close to half of utilities use or plan to use solid-state technology on residential accounts, according to a new report from energy research leader Chartwell Inc. of Atlanta.
Unlike traditional electromechanical meters, solid-state meters have no mechanical parts. Instead, they use electronic sensing elements and computer chips, and typically feature a digital display. Many utilities already have solid-state meters on commercial/industrial accounts, but now about 43% of utilities use or plan to use solid-state meters on residential locations, according to Chartwell’s AMR survey of 100 utilities that was completed in July 2003.
Utilities have also found solid-state meters to be more accurate than traditional electromechanical meters, which have moving parts that cause meters to slow down over time, states Chartwell’s new report, AMR and The Business Case for Residential Solid-State Meters. With the advent of solid-state electricity meters, more of the fundamental AMR product is being absorbed into the electronics of the meter. This has reduced cost and enabled solid-state to compete favorably on an economic basis with installing separate AMR modules for electromechanical meters, states the report.
AMR and the Business Case for Residential Solid-State Meters includes two case studies, including one that reveals how the use of solid-state meters saves a large Northeastern utility $4 million annually. The other case studies explains how Niagara Mohawk justified solid-state meters for 1.5 million residential accounts.
AMR and the Business Case for Residential Solid-State Meters, which is available for $250, is part of The Chartwell Metering Research Series, the only unbiased monthly publications devoted exclusively to the AMR industry. The Series includes monthly issue- and news-oriented reports and case studies on trends and technologies in the AMR industry as well as an annual report with analysis of surveys of more than 100 utilities.
Membership in The Chartwell AMR Research Series is $2,495. For more information call 800.432.5879.
Press contact: Garrett Johnston, 404.237.9099.
