As the electrical grid across the United States evolves and expands, so do the technologies used to manage it. One of the most recent upgrades performed by many electrical utilities around the country is the installation of smart meters. Smart meters connect directly with your utility company, allowing them to constantly monitor your electricity. This means that billing is nearly instant, accurate and requires few to no meter readers. It also means that outages are almost instantly identified, allowing your electrical utility to dispatch repair crews quicker than ever. What other benefits do these meters provide?

In addition to the installation and usage of the smart meters by utility companies, a host of tools available to consumers have also been developed. Depending on the level of technology being used in your area, some of these tools may be available to you. One of the most useful aspects of a smart meter is the ability to monitor your electrical usage on an hourly basis. Many programs offered by local utility companies provide you with graphs, allowing you to inspect your overall electrical usage. This type of data can provide you with very valuable information in regards to your overall electrical usage. By using these graphs, you can discover which days, and times of day that you use the most electricity. You can then make adjustments accordingly, when it comes to electrical usage.

Smart meters also allow electrical companies to help you compare your electrical usage with that of your neighbors. In many cases, your utility company will provide you with a numbers comparing you with both the average homeowner in your area, as well as more efficient homeowners. That way, you can see how you stack up against those around you.

As an evolution of this data, many local utilities are putting a lot of the power back into the hands of their customers. Because they can now provide such targeted usage data back to the average consumer, utility companies can provide highly accurate, usable information on a daily basis. In doing so, many utility companies provide constant rate updates in the form of text messages and emails. Other programs exist, which provide incentives for limiting usage during peak hours. This type of program will often offer a very low rate during off-peak hours, and give you tips and advice for lowering your consumption during peak hours, where electrical prices are much higher.

Regardless of how smart meters are being used in your area, there are many benefits to their installation. Because of the accurate and timely information that they provide, everyone from your utility company to homeowners can make better-educated decisions when it comes to using and providing power. When utilized by the utility company, this means fewer outages that become shorter over time. As this data evolves, our electrical utilities will eventually be able to better identify problem areas, and take the steps necessary to make their overall electrical network as efficient as possible.