Oncor - Smart Texas Frequently Asked Questions

Smart Texas Frequently Asked Questions

(Smart Texas is the name of Oncor's Advanced Metering System communication and education initiative)

Q. What is AMS?
A. AMS stands for Advanced Metering System. Electrical energy that is used by a home or business is measured by some sort of meter. The meters used today at most homes and small businesses are generally based on 50-year-old technology. While these meters do a great job of reliably and accurately measuring the amount of electricity consumed, they do not provide the kind of information needed by consumers today to allow them to be smarter about how they use electricity.

Q. So what is so "advanced" about Oncor's new meters?
A. Oncor's AMS replaces the 50-year-old meter technology with modern, electronic meters and supporting communication and information management systems. Consumers will have access to near-real-time information that will they need to better manage their electricity usage. Oncor's AMS will also ultimately enable Retail Electric Providers to develop and offer new, innovative rate plans that will provide additional ways for consumers to lower their bills.

Q. Why is having an Advanced Metering System important?
A. Advanced Metering is important because it will enable you to have greater control over your energy usage. Today, most consumers don't fully understand how much electricity they have used until they get their monthly bill - too late for them to take action and make a difference. By having access to real time information on how you consume energy, you can begin to make smarter decisions and change behaviors to help you reduce your consumption, or modify your usage patterns.

Q. What evidence do you have that consumers will reduce demand and achieve cost savings and environmental results through emissions reductions?
A. There have been a number of studies conducted around the world and across the U.S. that have looked at the impact of advanced meters. The results of the studies is very consistent - when provided the right information in a timely manner, consumers do take action to modify their electricity consumption. One California study revealed that consumers reduced demand by 5.7 to 8.7 percent, while a Norwegian study showed a decline in demand by nine percent and a UK study shows a demand reduction of 12 percent - all based on consumers' access to their usage data and reductions that resulted. For residential customers on the Oncor system, a 5 to 10 percent reduction in consumption equates to about $8.00 to $16.00 per month in savings.

Q. Am I required to have an Advanced Meter?
A. Oncor is dedicated to providing this enhanced capability to its customers in the most cost effective manner. By implementing AMS across Oncor's service area to all customers in a systematic basis, Oncor is able to minimize costs. Therefore, everyone in Oncor's service territory will receive an advanced meter with access to a Web portal that will track your energy consumption in 15-minute intervals. Even without an in-home display monitor, you can manage your electricity consumption through the Web portal. Having the advanced meters will also help meet the needs of increasing demands for electricity. Delivery of electricity will be more reliable and power can be restored quicker and without human intervention when outages do occur.

Q. How much will this new meter cost me?
A. The cost is minimal compared to the savings you can expect by reducing your demand and one of the lowest in the nation for this technology. There will be a surcharge of $2.19 each month for the next 11 years. How can you offset this fee? Just replace a 100W light bulb with an Energy Star CFL light bulb and you could save more than $2.30 a month.

Q. Will this eliminate the need for a meter reader to come to my house (my back yard) to read my meter?
A. Yes. Oncor's AMS will allow us to obtain information from your meter remotely, so there is no need for a meter reader to be on site to read a meter. Oncor personnel may still need access to your meter or other Oncor facilities on your property from time to time, as they do today.

Q. If Oncor no longer needs to manually read the meters and does not need meter readers, isn't that a huge cost savings? And if so, why are you charging me for an AMS meter? Shouldn't the meter reading savings pay for the new meters?
A. The savings from not having to manually read meters was fully accounted for in the determination of the surcharge. However, this savings does not fully cover the cost of the investment of the new meters and associated communications and data management systems. Also, keep in mind that Oncor's AMS is much more than just automating the meter reading process. It is providing much higher value information and enables the customer to really have more control of their bill.

Q. Why do I have to pay for the meters now when I might not get one for several years?
A. It's the lowest cost method for consumers. Working with the state's regulators and following guidance from the state law, this is the most cost effective manner to deploy these meters. The cost recovery time period would be the same regardless of when the surcharge began. By starting the surcharge now, Oncor is able to secure the meters at a low cost and prevent different customers from paying different amounts or from the cost being higher than the $2.19 that the Public Utility Commission has approved.

Q. When will my new meter be installed and what is required of me during the install?
A. The installation of advanced meters will take place throughout the Oncor service territory over the next four years. A deployment schedule was approved by the Texas Public Utility Commission and is posted on our Web site www.smarttexas. You won't have to do anything to have the new meters installed. Our service technicians will remove the current electro-mechanical meter from the side of your home and replace it with the new advanced meter. You will be notified prior to this taking place.

Q. Didn't I just get a new meter? Why am I getting a new one?
A. If you just received a new meter recently it was just a digital meter that still communicated one-way, and does not provide the information you need to better control your electricity usage. The new advanced meter will communicate two-way therefore making the Oncor grid more advanced and the newer technology to help you manage your electric use.

Q. Who approved this? Has the PUC reviewed?
A. Oncor is a regulated electricity delivery company which means that the costs charged to all customers go through a full and thorough review process with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC). After the conclusion of this review process, the PUC approved Oncor's Advanced Metering System in August 2008.

Q. If I move, can I take my meter with me?
A. No. But if you are moving within the Oncor service territory, you should have a meter at your new location by the completion of deployment in 2012.

Q. So how do I obtain information from my meter? Do I have to find and monitor my new meter?
A. No. Oncor's AMS will have the ability to communicate with in-home devices (such as display monitors or smart thermostats) which will provide you with easy access to your usage information. In addition, you will be able to access your historical usage information by way of a web portal. Your information will be provided to the web portal on a "day after" basis.

Q. What is an in-home display monitor?
A. An in-home display monitor is a wireless device that easily installs anywhere in the home. It electronically talks to the advanced meter to display how much electricity is being consumed in the home and can convert that usage into a dollar amount to show how much you are spending with the click of a button. For those that are environmentally conscious, it can also show your carbon footprint based on your current electricity usage. All of these capabilities are enabled by the Advanced Meter and the in-home display monitor may be purchased through your Retail Electric provider or at a retail home specialty store.

Q. What if new technology comes out? Does my meter become out of date?
A. No. Since these meters have two-way communication capability, software upgrades can be made without having to install new meters. Just as important, these meters are some of the most advanced in the world.

Q. Is anyone else in the country implementing these new meters?
A. Utility companies across the nation are looking for ways to deliver more reliability and environmentally friendly solutions. Oncor's Advanced Metering System will be one of the largest deployments in the nation.

Q. Are there other customer benefits of AMS?
A. Yes. AMS will better enable Oncor to monitor what is happening on the delivery grid. Oncor will know almost immediately when an outage occurs at your home or business, and can respond to outages more quickly. And the technology will even allow Oncor to begin to detect problems before they result in outages.

Q. Are businesses getting these new meters?
A. Yes. This will enable small businesses to have many of energy management tools that larger businesses have today. Large commercial or industrial businesses already have energy managers on staff that review and analyze the company's energy consumption through specialized meters, known as IDR (Interval Data Recorders). Small businesses typically can't afford to spend six figures to hire an energy manager and the necessary equipment; however they can reap the benefits of the advanced meter. Owners can identify spikes in energy usage throughout the day, week or month to better manage their costs and stay competitive.

Q. How can I learn more about these advanced meters and how they will help me control my energy consumption, reduce my electricity costs and conserve the environment?
A. Visit the Smart Texas Mobile Experience Center. Check our Web site, www.smarttexas.com for the current schedule and visit the exhibit in a town near you.

Q. What is the Smart Texas Mobile Experience Center?
A. The Smart Texas Mobile Experience Center was created to bring information about the new Advanced Metering System to the communities that Oncor serves. We have created 1,000 square feet inside a 53-foot trailer with interactive videos and real-world demonstrations for you to experience "hands-on" the benefits of these new meters. The experience center will travel to Oncor service areas throughout Texas over the next four years exhibiting at local fairs, festivals and at Oncor events in local Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Lowe's parking lots.

Q. What will I learn at the Smart Texas Mobile Experience Center?
A. The Smart Texas Mobile Experience Center has been divided into zones that build on each other throughout the center for a complete consumer experience.

Q. If Oncor no longer needs to manually read the meters and does not need meter readers, isn't that a huge cost savings? And if so, why are you charging me for an AMS meter? Shouldn't the meter reading savings pay for the new meters?
A. The savings from not having to manually read meters was fully accounted for in the determination of the surcharge. However, this savings does not fully cover the cost of the investment of the new meters and associated communications and data management systems. Oncor submitted all of its costs to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, as well as interested parties such as consumer groups, for complete review of appropriateness. CLICK HERE for a breakdown of all the costs reviewed by the regulators. Also, keep in mind that Oncor's AMS is much more than just automating the meter reading process. It is providing much higher value information and enables the customer to really have more control of their bill.

Walk-up Area - Receive an overview of the new advanced meter
Zone 1 - Learn about Oncor and its use of technology to improve electric delivery
Zone 2 - Understand your energy consumption
Zone 3 - Experience how different household appliances affect your energy usage
Zone 4 - Imagine the future of a Smart Texas
Zone 5 - Observe how rethinking energy will help the environment
The Power to Choose - Access the PowertoChoose.com Web site provided by the Public Utility Commission of Texas to make decisions about your electricity provider.
Exit - Receive helpful take-home information and giveaways about conserving energy.