Category: Tips

The Benefits of Smart Thermostats for Homeowners: Saving Money with Smart Technology

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The Benefits of Smart Thermostats for Homeowners: Saving Money with Smart Technology

As energy costs continue to rise, homeowners are increasingly seeking ways to reduce their utility bills and improve energy efficiency. One of the most effective solutions is the adoption of smart thermostats. These devices offer a range of benefits that can lead to significant cost savings and a more comfortable home environment. In this article, we’ll explore how smart thermostats can help homeowners save money and why they are a valuable addition to any home.

What is a Smart Thermostat?

A smart thermostat is a Wi-Fi-enabled device that allows homeowners to control their heating and cooling systems remotely via a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Unlike traditional thermostats, smart thermostats can learn your schedule, preferences, and routines, optimizing the heating and cooling of your home for maximum efficiency and comfort.

Key Benefits of Smart Thermostats

1. Energy Savings

The primary benefit of smart thermostats is their ability to save energy. By learning your habits and adjusting the temperature accordingly, these devices ensure that your HVAC system operates only when necessary. For instance, a smart thermostat can lower the temperature when you’re away from home and start heating or cooling before you return, ensuring comfort without wasting energy.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners can save up to 10% annually on heating and cooling by simply adjusting their thermostats by 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 hours a day. Smart thermostats make this process seamless, automatically making these adjustments based on your daily routines.

2. Cost Savings

Energy savings directly translate into cost savings. By reducing the amount of energy your HVAC system uses, you lower your utility bills. Many smart thermostat manufacturers claim that their devices can save homeowners between 10-15% on their heating and cooling costs. Over time, these savings can add up significantly, making the initial investment in a smart thermostat well worth it.

3. Remote Access and Control

One of the standout features of smart thermostats is the ability to control them remotely. Whether you’re at work, on vacation, or simply in another room, you can adjust your home’s temperature with ease using a smartphone app. This remote access ensures that you never waste energy heating or cooling an empty house.

4. Learning Capabilities

Smart thermostats are equipped with learning algorithms that adapt to your schedule and preferences. They can detect when you typically leave and return home, and adjust the temperature settings accordingly. Over time, the thermostat becomes more efficient at managing your home’s climate, further enhancing energy and cost savings.

5. Integration with Other Smart Devices

Many smart thermostats can integrate with other smart home devices, such as smart plugs, lights, and security systems. This integration allows for more comprehensive home automation and energy management. For example, you can set up routines where your thermostat adjusts the temperature based on whether your smart security system detects that you’re home or away.

6. Energy Usage Reports

Smart thermostats often come with energy usage reports that provide insights into your heating and cooling patterns. These reports can help you understand how and when you use energy, enabling you to make informed decisions about further optimizing your energy use. Some smart thermostats even offer tips and suggestions on how to save more energy based on your usage patterns. Having this data can help when you are trying to calculate your utility bills.

How to Maximize Savings with a Smart Thermostat

To fully benefit from a smart thermostat, consider the following tips:

  • Set Realistic Temperature Goals: Aim for modest temperature adjustments that you can maintain consistently. Even small changes can lead to significant savings over time.
  • Utilize Scheduling Features: Take advantage of the scheduling capabilities of your smart thermostat to ensure your HVAC system runs only when needed.
  • Monitor and Adjust: Regularly review your energy usage reports and adjust your settings as necessary to maximize efficiency.
  • Integrate with Other Devices: If possible, integrate your smart thermostat with other smart home devices for enhanced control and automation.

Conclusion

Smart thermostats are a powerful tool for homeowners looking to save money and reduce their energy consumption. By leveraging advanced technology and learning algorithms, these devices optimize your home’s climate control, ensuring comfort while minimizing energy waste. The initial investment in a smart thermostat can pay off quickly through lower utility bills and improved energy efficiency. As energy costs continue to rise, smart thermostats represent a smart choice for any homeowner committed to saving money and living more sustainably.

By adopting smart thermostats, homeowners can enjoy significant cost savings, enhanced comfort, and a more energy-efficient home. Explore the range of options available and consider making the switch to smart technology today.

Smart Plugs: A Smart Solution for Energy Efficiency

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Smart Plugs: A Smart Solution for Energy Efficiency

In today’s world of advancing technology and smart homes, managing and monitoring energy consumption has become more accessible and efficient. Smart plugs are one of the simplest yet most effective devices to monitor electricity usage in your home. This article will explore what smart plugs are, their applications, and how they can help lower your energy bills and integrate into an overall energy monitoring system.

What Are Smart Plugs?

Smart plugs are devices that plug into standard electrical outlets and allow you to control and monitor the power usage of any device or appliance connected to them. Equipped with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities, smart plugs can be controlled remotely through a smartphone app or integrated with smart home systems like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit.

Where and How Can Smart Plugs Be Used?

Smart plugs are versatile and can be used in various settings:

  1. Home Appliances: Use them to control lamps, coffee makers, fans, or any other household appliance.
  2. Office Equipment: Manage office devices such as computers, printers, and copiers to reduce energy consumption.
  3. Entertainment Systems: Control TVs, sound systems, and gaming consoles, ensuring they are turned off when not in use.
  4. Outdoor Devices: Some smart plugs are designed for outdoor use, ideal for controlling holiday lights, water fountains, or garden equipment.

How Smart Plugs Can Lower Your Energy Bill

  1. Automated Schedules: Smart plugs allow you to set schedules for your appliances. For example, you can program your coffee maker to turn on just before you wake up or ensure your lamps turn off automatically at bedtime.
  2. Energy Monitoring: Many smart plugs come with energy monitoring features that track the power consumption of connected devices. This data can help you identify energy-hogging appliances and adjust usage habits accordingly.
  3. Remote Control: Forgot to turn off the light before leaving home? With smart plugs, you can turn off appliances remotely using your smartphone, reducing unnecessary power usage.
  4. Power Usage Alerts: Receive alerts if a device is left on for an extended period or if energy consumption spikes, enabling proactive management.

Integrating Smart Plugs into an Overall Energy Monitoring System

Smart plugs can play a significant role in a comprehensive energy monitoring system. Here’s how they can be integrated:

  1. Centralized Control: By connecting all your smart plugs to a central hub or smart home system, you can monitor and control all connected devices from a single interface.
  2. Energy Usage Reports: Consolidate data from all smart plugs to generate detailed energy usage reports. This holistic view can help you identify patterns and make informed decisions about energy consumption.
  3. Integration with Smart Meters: When integrated with smart meters, smart plugs can provide even more granular data, helping you understand energy usage in real-time and adjust accordingly.
  4. Smart Home Ecosystem: Combine smart plugs with other smart devices like smart thermostats, lighting systems, and security cameras for a fully automated and energy-efficient home.

Conclusion

Smart plugs are a simple yet powerful tool in the quest for energy efficiency. By offering control, monitoring, and automation capabilities, they help reduce energy consumption, lower energy bills, and integrate seamlessly into an overall energy monitoring system. Whether for home or office use, smart plugs are a worthwhile investment for anyone looking to optimize their energy usage and contribute to a smarter, greener future.

Devices to Monitor Electricity Usage in Your Home

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Devices to Monitor Electricity Usage in Your Home

In today’s energy-conscious world, understanding and managing your electricity usage is more important than ever. Managing your energy usage can help keep your bills from getting higher each month. Devices to monitor electricity usage in home settings offer a powerful way to keep track of your consumption, reduce waste, and ultimately save on utility bills. Let’s explore some of the best devices available and how they can benefit your household or business.

Smart Plugs

Smart plugs are a simple yet effective way to monitor and control the electricity usage of individual appliances. By plugging an appliance into a smart plug, you can track its power consumption via a smartphone app. Many smart plugs also offer scheduling features, allowing you to turn off devices automatically when not in use. This is particularly useful for high-consumption devices like heaters, air conditioners, and entertainment systems. You can really gain valuable insight into how you use energy by utilizing smart plugs to identify different appliances.

Whole-House Energy Monitors

Whole-house energy monitors, such as the Sense Energy Monitor or the Emporia Vue, provide comprehensive insights into your home’s electricity usage. These devices are installed in your electrical panel and can track the consumption of every device in your home. They offer real-time data, historical usage reports, and even the ability to set energy-saving goals. Used in conjunction with smart plugs, whole-home energy monitoring systems help you keep an eye on your energy usage.

Visit, Energy Monitoring Solutions for Homeowners: Choosing the Right System, for a more in depth look at home energy monitoring solutions.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats, like the Nest Learning Thermostat or the Ecobee SmartThermostat, do more than just control your heating and cooling. They monitor your HVAC system’s energy usage and provide reports on how much energy you’re saving by using energy-efficient settings. Some models of smart thermostats also learn your schedule and preferences to optimize your energy consumption automatically. These thermostats can do more than just scheduling, they can tell you how many hours and what time your HVAC system runs each day.

Energy Monitoring Power Strips

Energy monitoring power strips are another excellent device to monitor electricity usage in home environments. These strips not only protect your electronics from power surges but also track the energy consumption of multiple devices plugged into them. Some models offer smart features like individual outlet control and detailed usage reports. These can be similar to smart plugs but do not require any electrical work to install.

Benefits of Monitoring Electricity Usage

  1. Cost Savings: By identifying and reducing the usage of high-energy-consuming devices, you can significantly lower your electricity bills.
  2. Energy Efficiency: Monitoring helps you make informed decisions about when and how to use your appliances, promoting energy-efficient habits.
  3. Environmental Impact: Reducing energy consumption contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions, helping to protect the environment.
  4. Enhanced Awareness: Understanding your electricity usage patterns can lead to more mindful consumption and the adoption of energy-saving technologies.

Conclusion

Incorporating devices to monitor electricity usage in home settings is a smart move for anyone looking to save money, increase energy efficiency, and reduce their environmental footprint. Whether you start with a simple smart plug or invest in a whole-house energy monitor, the insights you gain can lead to meaningful changes in your energy consumption habits.

By taking control of your electricity usage, you can create a more sustainable and cost-effective home environment.

How Baseboard Heaters Work

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How Baseboard Heaters Work

Baseboard heaters are a popular method for providing heat in residential and commercial spaces. They operate using either electric or hydronic (water-based) systems. Here’s a detailed explanation of how each type works:

Electric Baseboard Heaters

Electric baseboard heaters consist of metal heating elements encased within a protective metal housing. When electricity flows through these elements, they heat up and transfer warmth to the surrounding air through both convection and radiation.

  1. Thermostat Control: An electric thermostat regulates the temperature by turning the heater on and off. When the room temperature drops below the set point, the thermostat activates the heater.
  2. Heat Generation: The electric current flows through the resistive heating elements, causing them to become hot.
  3. Heat Distribution: The heated air rises naturally through convection, spreading warmth throughout the room. The metal housing also radiates heat directly into the room.
  4. Safety Features: Modern electric baseboard heaters come with built-in safety features such as overheat protection and thermal cutoffs to prevent overheating.

Hydronic Baseboard Heaters

Hydronic baseboard heaters use a liquid, usually water or a water-antifreeze mixture, as the heat transfer medium. These systems can be part of a home’s central heating system or operate independently.

  1. Boiler Heating: A boiler heats the water, which is then circulated through a network of pipes.
  2. Radiator Fins: The hot water flows through pipes located within the baseboard unit, which are surrounded by metal fins.
  3. Heat Emission: The metal fins absorb heat from the water and emit it into the room through both convection and radiation.
  4. Thermostat Control: Similar to electric heaters, hydronic baseboard heaters are controlled by a thermostat that regulates the flow of hot water to maintain the desired room temperature.

Advantages of Baseboard Heaters

  1. Zone Heating: Baseboard heaters allow for individual room temperature control, which can be more energy-efficient.
  2. Silent Operation: Both electric and hydronic baseboard heaters operate quietly, making them ideal for bedrooms and living spaces.
  3. Ease of Installation: Electric baseboard heaters, in particular, are relatively easy to install and require no ductwork.

Disadvantages of Baseboard Heaters

  1. Initial Cost: Hydronic systems can be more expensive to install due to the need for a boiler and piping.
  2. Maintenance: Hydronic systems may require regular maintenance to prevent leaks and ensure efficient operation.
  3. Space Requirements: Baseboard heaters take up wall space, which can limit furniture placement.

Conclusion

Baseboard heaters provide an effective and quiet heating solution, suitable for various settings. Understanding the differences between electric and hydronic systems can help homeowners choose the best option for their needs. Proper installation and regular maintenance ensure these heaters operate efficiently and safely.

For more tips on energy efficiency and different heating options, check out our articles on Energy Efficient Home, Baseboard Heaters, How to Save Energy, and Space Heaters.

Energy Monitoring Solutions for Homeowners: Choosing the Right System

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Introduction

As homeowners, we’re all concerned about our energy consumption and its impact on both our wallets and the environment. The good news is that modern technology provides us with tools to monitor and manage our energy usage effectively. In this article, we’ll explore the best smart home energy monitors available in 2024, helping you make informed decisions to reduce your energy bills, minimize your environmental footprint and help you create a more energy efficient home.

Energy Monitoring Solutions for Homeowners: Choosing the Right System

Why Use a Smart Home Energy Monitor?

  1. Real-Time Insights: The electricity bill you receive doesn’t break down power usage per appliance. A reliable home energy monitoring system provides an x-ray view of how each device in your household consumes energy. Armed with this information, you can make informed decisions to reduce the usage of power-hungry devices.
  2. Cost Savings: By identifying energy-hungry appliances, you can take steps to optimize their usage or replace them with more energy-efficient alternatives. A smart home energy monitor pays for itself by helping you save on utility bills.
  3. Prevent Costly Repairs: Some energy monitors can alert you when critical systems (like sump pumps) stop running. This early warning can prevent expensive repairs down the line.

Top Smart Home Energy Monitors

1. Sense Energy Monitor

  • Top Pick: The Sense Energy Monitor is one of the smartest devices on the market.
  • Features:
    • Installed in your home energy panel via two clamp-on sensors.
    • Listens to and records the unique energy signals passing through the panel.
    • Machine learning system instantly identifies which appliances are drawing energy.
    • Real-time data and insights via the Sense app.
    • Set goals and budgets for energy usage.
    • Receive updates on progress toward your goals1.

2. Emporia Vue Energy Monitor

3. Wiser Energy Smart Home Monitor

  • Smart Home Integrations: Seamlessly integrates with your smart home ecosystem.
  • Features:

4. Efergy Energy Monitoring

  • Budget Pick: DIY installation.
  • Features:

5. Eyedro Home Energy Monitors

Conclusion

Investing in a smart home energy monitor is a wise choice for homeowners. These devices empower you with real-time data, allowing you to optimize energy usage, save money, and contribute to a greener planet. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or simply want to reduce your energy bills, consider installing one of these top-rated energy monitors in your home. You can also install these home energy monitors in conjunction with smart plugs to get an even more granular view of your energy usage.

Remember, every kilowatt-hour saved counts toward a more sustainable future! 🌿🏡💡

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is based on research and available data as of 2024. Prices and features may vary. Always consult product specifications and user reviews before making a purchase decision.

The Impact of Weather on Energy Consumption

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The weather is one of the major drivers in variations of energy consumption. Temperature swings, humidity changes, and extreme weather events can all impact energy consumption. If you have an energy efficient home, or are trying to make your home more efficient, you need to understand the impact of weather on energy consumption. Here we will discover different variables and their impact.

The Impact of Weather on Energy Consumption
  1. Temperature:
    • Heating and Cooling: Temperature variations significantly impact energy consumption. During colder months, heating systems (such as electric heaters, heat pumps, or natural gas furnaces) are used extensively to maintain indoor comfort. Conversely, in hot weather, air conditioning units used to keep homes and business cool are the primary energy consumers.
    • Seasonal Trends: Seasonal changes directly influence energy demand. For instance, winter heating requirements drive up electricity and fuel consumption, while summer cooling needs lead to increased electricity usage for air conditioning. There can also be consumption changes when customers are on vacation.
    • Peak Demand: Extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) contribute to peak energy demand. During heatwaves or cold snaps, energy grids experience higher loads due to increased cooling or heating demands.
  2. Humidity and Precipitation:
    • Humidity Impact: High humidity levels can affect human comfort. Air conditioners work harder in humid conditions to remove excess moisture from indoor air, leading to increased energy consumption.
    • Rainfall and Snow: Precipitation affects energy infrastructure. Heavy rain or snow can cause power outages due to fallen trees, damaged transmission lines, or flooding. Snow accumulation on solar panels reduces their efficiency.
  3. Wind Speed:
    • Wind Energy: Wind speed directly influences wind turbine performance. Higher wind speeds lead to more efficient energy generation from wind farms. Conversely, low wind speeds result in reduced output.
    • Storms and Turbulence: Severe storms with strong winds can damage power lines, disrupt transmission, and cause widespread blackouts.
  4. Solar Radiation:
  5. Extreme Weather Events:

Understanding these weather-related dynamics is essential for energy planners, grid operators, and policymakers. By factoring in climate variations, we can develop resilient energy systems that adapt to changing conditions while minimizing environmental impact. 

Role of Meter Technicians in AMI Deployment

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Role of Meter Technicians in AMI Deployment

Introduction

Meter technicians play a vital role in the deployment of an advanced metering infrastructure system. Even before deployment begins meter technicians work with internal and external IT, customer service, billing, and marketing departments to ensure a smooth deployment. Once deployment begins, meter technicians work on the installation of meters and network devices, and ensure that the system is installed safely and complies with all necessary regulations.

  1. Installation and Maintenance:
    • Smart Meter Installation: Meter technicians are responsible for installing smart meters at residential and commercial locations. They ensure that the meters are correctly connected and fully functional.
    • Routine Maintenance: Technicians perform regular checks on smart meters using various tools like computers for data integrity, and test equipment to ensure their continued accuracy and reliability. This includes verifying communication links, assessing meter health, and addressing any issues promptly.
    • Troubleshooting and Repairs: When smart meters encounter problems (such as communication glitches or faulty readings), meter technicians troubleshoot the issues. They may replace faulty components or entire meters as needed.
    • Meter Inventory Tracking: An AMI installation is likely one of the largest projects a utility has ever completed. During the project a utility visits every location to exchange a meter. Keeping track of meter inventory helps a utility track its progress and its investment.
    • Business Process Changes: During an AMI installation its likely that some business processes will change. The key to a successful implementation is communicating those changes and quickly adapting to any new business processes.
  2. Network Communication:
    • Configuring Communication Modules: Meter technicians configure communication modules within smart meters. These modules allow seamless data transmission between the meters and utility systems.
    • Ensuring Connectivity: They play a critical role in establishing reliable communication channels. Whether it’s wired or wireless communication, technicians ensure that data flows smoothly from the meters to the central data management systems.
    • Data Transmission Failures: Any network and connectivity issues can result in data transmission failure and delays. This problem often occurs when the AMI system is set up in remote or densely populated areas.
  3. Safety and Compliance:
    • Safety Protocols: During installation and maintenance, meter technicians strictly adhere to safety protocols. They work with electricity and must follow guidelines to prevent accidents or injuries. They must also wear all the necessary PPE.
    • Meter Accuracy and Data Privacy: Technicians comply with regulations related to meter accuracy and data privacy. Ensuring accurate meter readings and protecting customer data are top priorities.
    • Hot Sockets: As meter technicians install meters across a utilities network they will encounter meter bases with hot sockets. Having a plan in place on how the utility handles these before hand is imperative.

Conclusion

Meter technicians are the backbone of AMI deployment. Their expertise ensures that smart meters function optimally, data is transmitted efficiently, and safety standards are upheld. As utilities continue to adopt AMI, meter technicians remain essential contributors to a modernized and efficient energy grid .

Feel free to ask if you’d like more details or have any other questions!

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Automated Meter Reading (AMR): A Deep Dive

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Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Automated Meter Reading (AMR)

Introduction

In the realm of utility management, two technologies have revolutionized the way we monitor and control energy usage: Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Automated Meter Reading (AMR). These systems have transformed traditional meter reading methods, paving the way for more efficient and accurate data collection. What is AMI meter reading, what is AMR meter reading, and what is the difference between AMI and AMR?

Understanding AMI and AMR

Automated Meter Reading (AMR) is a technology that automates the process of collecting consumption data from energy metering devices. It eliminates the need for manual meter readings, reducing human error and increasing efficiency.

On the other hand, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is a remote electric meter reading system that is much more comprehensive. It not only automates data collection and allows data analytics, but also enables two-way communication between the meter and the central system. This allows for real-time monitoring, remote control, and a host of other advanced features.

The Technology Behind AMI and AMR

AMR systems primarily use drive-by or walk-by technologies. A utility worker with a handheld device can collect data from multiple meters without needing to access each one physically. Some AMR systems also use fixed networks for data transmission, using technologies like radio frequency (RF), power line communication (PLC), or telephony.

AMI remote electric meter reading systems, being more advanced, use a variety of communication technologies, including RF, PLC, cellular, and broadband. The choice of technology depends on factors like the utility’s requirements, the geographical area, and the existing infrastructure.

Benefits of AMI and AMR

Implementing AMI and AMR systems brings numerous benefits:

  1. Efficiency: Automated data collection reduces the time and resources required for manual meter reading.
  2. Accuracy: Automation eliminates human errors associated with manual readings.
  3. Real-time Data: AMI systems provide real-time consumption data, enabling better energy management.
  4. Customer Service: With accurate and timely data, utilities can offer improved services to customers, like detailed consumption reports and quicker response to queries.

Challenges and Real-World Applications

Despite the benefits, implementing AMI and AMR is not without challenges. These include the high initial investment, the need for skilled personnel to manage the systems, and concerns about data security and privacy. In the real world these systems are also used to bring back data from renewable energy systems.

AMI systems enable utilities to create demand response programs customers can participate in to create a more sustainable grid.

However, many utilities worldwide have successfully implemented these systems. For instance, in Europe, AMI adoption has been driven by EU mandates requiring member states to equip 80% of consumers with smart meters by 2020. In the U.S., the 2009 Smart Grid Investment Grant program accelerated AMI deployment.

Conclusion

As we move towards a more connected and data-driven world, technologies like AMI and AMR will play a crucial role in energy management. Despite the challenges, their benefits in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and improved customer service make them a worthwhile investment for utilities worldwide. As these technologies continue to evolve, we can expect even more innovative solutions in the future.

Why Does it Seem Like my Power Bill Keeps Going Up?

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Your power bill can be one of the largest variable costs that your family pays each and every month. Because of that, it can be an emotional thing when the bill is higher than normal, or if it continues to climb higher and higher. What I want to show you today are a few simple and free steps that you can take to start troubleshooting you high power bill and get you on the path to lowering that energy bill.

power bill keeps going up

Step 1

The first step to figuring out why you power bill keeps going up is to look at your past billing statements. If your utility has an AMI system you might be able to download your load profile data. Not just the one from last month, but preferably the one from the same month last year. You need to look at the number of kilowatt hours (kWh), that you were billed for last year in the same month. If there is a large difference you may have a problem. If the difference is close then that just means that you are using about the same amount of energy this year that you did at this time last year. This is your average. If you do not have access to this information contact your customer service department and they should be able to provide it for you.

Step 2

If you have determined that you are using much more electricity this year than you were last year the first thing that you need to consider is your heating and cooling system. The heating and cooling system is by far the largest consumer of energy in the home. Sometimes you already know that you are having a problem but you just do not want to admit it to yourself. Maybe the house is just not getting warm enough or cool enough. Sometimes we like to compensate by adding space heaters or window units. While these things work great to keep us comfortable, they can really increase your power bill.

Step 3

Once you have decided that, or ruled out, your heating and air system are the culprit of you high bill, it is time to start troubleshooting. Knowing how to read your meter will be helpful as well as knowing how to do a watt load check. These will help you determine what is pulling all of the load in your home. To find out what is making your bill so high you will need a partner. This partner will either go stand in front of the meter or will turn things off at the breaker panel for you. Note, only turn things off in the panel if everything looks safe and you feel safe doing it. There are many old panels out there that are falling apart these days. Approach at your own risk. Also know that turning breakers on and off has been known to break them requiring replacement, so be careful.

When you turn off a breaker, if there is a load that is being fed by that breaker, it will turn off. When it does, the meter will slow down or stop. So, you want to continue turning off your breakers one at a time until you find the one that turns off a large load. This could be your culprit. Sometimes it is tough to track down. Many times you will think that there is nothing on yet the meter is still spinning. Turn the breakers off until you find it and then go around the house and find out what is off. That is what is using the energy.

Step 4

Once have everything tracked down you need to calculate your bill. Doing this will help you understand your energy usage and will help you save on your next bill! If you want a more automatic approach, you should consider investing in some technology, like smart plugs, or smart thermostats, to help you narrow things down.

Hot Sockets in Meter Bases

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Hot sockets are one of the things hot socketthat you will encounter if you spend anytime working in self-contained meter bases or changing meters. Here I want to discuss a few things that cause hot sockets, what kind of damage a hot socket can cause and what Meter Technicians look for when changing meters to spot a hot socket.

What causes Hot Sockets?

The biggest cause of hot sockets seems to be in my experience, loose connections. Loose connections can be at a couple of different places in the meter base. One of the places is where the wire attaches to the lugs. This is a notorious spot that heats up over time when it is not tightened properly. What happens is over time little micro arcs occur between the loose wire and the lug causing it to overheat. This, in turn, causes the socket terminal where the meter plugs in to overheat and voila, you have your first cause of a hot socket.

Another cause is the terminal or socket itself. In most meter bases these are spring loaded jaws that apply force to the terminals on the back of the meter. When the meter is pulled and set these jaws open and close back. Sometimes plastic boots are installed on the terminals of the meter in order to turn off a customer for non-payment or for any other reason. The more a meter is pulled in and out of these jaws the looser they become. When they get slack then tiny micro arcs happen which causes the terminal to overheat and we have another cause of a hot socket.

Yet another cause is the hot and the cold along with fluctuations in the load. As the metal in the terminals heats up and cools down due to the weather and load changes it expands and contracts. This over time can cause the jaws to loosen up and overheat.

A hot socket can also be caused where the terminal is put together or attaches to the bus bar in the meter base. Sometimes it is a screw or bolt and other times it is springloaded jaws that connect to bus bar. Either way, any slackness and you will eventually end up with a hot socket.

What kind of damage can a Hot Socket cause?

A hot socket is a very dangerous occurence. The worst thing it could cause is a house fire. You can see in the picures below that a hot socket in a meter base can lead to melted wire. It can also lead to overheated terminals on the meter itself. This causes irreversible damage to the meter to the point that the meter has to be replaced.

hot socket

Especially with the newer solid state meters there seems to be a lower tolerance for overheating of the terminals in a meter base. It is also not uncommon for customers who have hot sockets to experience flickering and dimming lights.

What to look for when changing meters?

When changing meters it is imperative that before pulling out any meter a quick visual inspection is done. This includes looking at the front of the meter and visually inspecting the wiring and terminals before pulling the meter out. It is very important not to take this step for granted. When terminals get so hot that they fail they can actually weld the terminals to the socket. This along with melted blocks in the meter base can cause a serious safety issue when pulling the meter.









So, look at the back of the meter the best you can before pulling it out. Once the meter is out you need to visually inspect the meter and the meter base before installing a new one. Some of the signs of an overheated terminal on a meter are discoloration and melting of the base plate. Likewise, some of the signs of a hot socket are discoloration and melted blocks and wire.

If you find this situation do not put a meter back in. The blocks, and possibly the wire and meter will all need to be replaced. Depending on you jurisdiction, this may be up to the utility or the homeowner to repair.

Conclusion

Hot sockets are something that every utility deals with. Be sure to be on the lookout for the causes and effects of hot sockets to keep those meters turning. As always, like us on Facebook and invite your friends!







Portable Generators – All Your Neighbors Will be Jealous as they Sit in the Dark

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Portable generators are becoming a very popular way to keep the power on. There are many things that can knock the power out. The biggest being storms. Whether they are ice storms, thunderstorms or just plain windstorms, a power outage can be a major inconvenience. So what do you do? You go shopping for a portable generator. But, with all of the choices available where do you start? How many watts do you need? Do you need 120v or 240v? How do you connect it to your house?  Read on as we tackle these questions.

When Shopping for Portable Generators, where do you Start?

If you are keen on making your neighbors jealous when their power is out and yours is not, you need to start shopping and buy your portable generator before the storm. So, that is the first place to start. Make sure that you are not waiting on the natural disaster to begin shopping. Prices can be higher during a natural disaster and supplies may be limited.

You can do your shopping at many of the big box hardware stores or even online at sites like Amazon. There are several things that you need to consider when buying a portable generator. The biggest two are watts and voltage. When looking at these quantities you need to first decide what it is that you want to power when the power is out. Which leads us to our next point.

How many Watts do you Need?

To decide how many watts your portable generator needs to put out you first need to decide what you want to power. Do you want just lights so you can see at night? Does your refrigerator need to have power so your food does not spoil? Do you want to have heat? These are all considerations to take into account when deciding how many watts you need. All of your appliances have wattage ratings. So, decide what you want to power and then go and check the ratings of each appliance.

After you have checked the wattage ratings of your appliances add them up. This will give you the amount of wattage that your generator needs to put out. A word of caution here. Most people want to power their entire homes with a portable generator. While there are some models that are capable of doing this for smaller homes, that is not their intention. The intention is to run critical loads or essential loads. These are the loads that are most essential. If you live in a very cold climate your heating system may be a critical load. Most people choose their refrigerator and a few sets of lights as critical loads.








Should you buy a 120v or 240v Portable Generator?

The answer here depends on what you have chosen as your critical loads. If they are all 120v, such as lights and the refrigerator, then a 120v generator will work just fine. If you are wanting to power your heating system, water heater, or stove then you should consider a 240v generator. Some well pumps are also 240v. So, if you need to power a well pump you need to check the voltage of it as well.

How do you connect your Portable Generator to your House?

Connecting portable generators to your house is a job for a licensed electrician. They will install a transfer switch along with new breakers for the essential loads that you choose. This ensures that when the power does go out and you use your generator that no power will be put back on the grid. Keeping your generator power separated from grid power keeps the lineman safe.

Do not just fashion a drop cord with two ends that plug in and plug it into the wall. First of all this is illegal. Second, you can put power back on the grid this way and cause serious injury or death to someone working on the power lines. Also, if you do this you will try to run your whole house off of it. The extension cord is not rated for this and neither is the receptacle that you have it plugged into. You can burn your house down doing this.

This should be a no brainer, but make sure your portable generator is outside when using it. The exhaust from the generator can be deadly.

Conclusion

Portable generators can be a great addition to your home. They can keep the lights on and make your neighbors jealous. They can also be used to make sure that your food does not spoil during a storm. Make sure that when you are deciding what you want to power that you add up the wattage of each appliance. Then decide if you need a 120v or a 240v generator. Finally, once you have made your purchase, contact a licensed electrician to get everything installed in a safe and professional way.









 

Computers and the Meter Tech

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As a Meter Technicians a computer will be very useful in your job. Many tasks in the metering world are not possible without the use of a computer. You can use a computer to help you with troubleshooting and performing load checks. Because of the this meter techs will need to know how to use different programs. They will also need to know how to analyze data.

Programming meters as a meter tech is an easy streamlined process. Many of the meter manufacturers have easy to use programming software. Once the program is built all you need to do is connect the probe to the meter. Then click the program and go through the prompt. Building the program can be tricky for those who do not know their way around a computer. If you need to change variables you need to know what the changes will do in the program.

Outside of programming meters, meter techs will need to be able to use Microsoft Word and Excel. Word is not used as much as Excel but is good to know. Many tasks can be completed with Excel. However, it will mostly be used to view data. At times data will also be exported to Excel. At other times data will need to be calculated in Excel. You can also use Excel as a small database for things such as test sites, or new installations. Meter techs also use Excel to view .CSV files and bill details.








One of the most important uses of the computer to the meter tech is billing system. Here the meter tech will look up the details of customer bills when talking to customers about their high bill complaints. It is important to know how to use this system and use it effectively. There are typically historical comments where other techs may have gone out before you. Also, you may find out that this is a problem customer. If that is the case you will know that you need to be on your game. This means meeting the customer with all of the facts.

In the billing system, meter techs will also assign multipliers to meters. This is very important. An incorrect multiplier in the billing system is one of the easiest mistakes to make. Especially if you have just completed a new installation. Billing systems are typically good at kicking out readings that appear to high or too low. And if a meter was just changed and the incorrect multiplier for that particular meter was put in the system it will generally get kicked out. However, with at new installation the computer has no history of that location to go on. Noticing this error could take years. Furthermore, this could be in the customer’s favor or in the favor of the utility.

In conclusion, being a meter tech is more that just going out in the field and swapping out meters. You need to have a good grasp on technology. Computers are essential to meter techs. The sooner you can master at least the basics the better.









PPE in Metering

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When it comes to working with meters as a meter tech you always have to remember that there will be times that you are working around energized equipment like transformers. And because of this you need to make sure that you protect yourself in the case of an accident. In order to protect yourself you need to make sure that you are always wearing your PPE. What is PPE you may ask? PPE stands for personal protective equipment. It is safety equipment that is designed to make sure that in case of an accident or in case of incidental contact with live conductors that we are not injured or even worse, killed. What I am going to detail here are the minimum requirements for Meter Technicians. Also listed are a few things that may not be required by your utility but are good idea. Be reminded however that these are minimums and that you should always wear the minimum that is required by your company. Also remember that anytime you are working near high voltage equipment, you need to keep High Voltage Safety in mind.

Minimum

Hard Hat

A hard hat is first on our list. The hard hat is generally made of a hard plastic material that has a webbed support system inside. The support system inside ensures that the hard hat is a cool as possible as well as provide a bit of a crush zone should something heavy fall. Your hard hat protects you from falling objects, but that is not all. The hard hat can also keep you from hitting your head if you are in an area with a low ceiling or if you are working in an enclosure or transformer it can keep you from hitting your head or having accidental contact with conductors. Another thing that a hard hat protects you from is the sun.

Your hard hat also keeps the sun off of your shiny head and keeps you from getting sun burned. Be sure that you inspect your hard hat on a regular basis for any cracks or sun damage. In addition, if you suspect any damage it is best to go ahead and replace your hard hat. It is easier to replace your hard hat than your head!

Safety Glasses

Safety glasses are essential as a part of your PPE arsenal. They protect your eyes from flying objects! Safety glasses also seem to be one of the most neglected pieces of PPE. People think that they just do not need them, especially if they are working at night. It is imperative that you wear your safety glasses to protect your eyes. There are even models now that are designed as sun glasses so that you look more stylish. Safety glasses do have ratings so make sure that you check with your company policy before wearing a pair of sunglasses to work.

Rubber Gloves

Rubber gloves are essential if you are going to be working on or near anything energized. I know that many of the old timers used to work secondary with just leather gloves. I also know that there are those of you out there that think there is nothing wrong with changing meters or checking voltage with just your bare hands. Yes you make get away with it a few times, or you may never even have a problem. However, it only takes one time for electricity to kill your or to burn off a finger. Make sure that you are testing your rubber gloves before each use. Also, make sure that you know the rating of your rubber gloves. Many meter techs will have two different sets of rubber gloves. They may have a low voltage set that are rated for 1000v and they may have a high voltage set. The high voltage set will vary based on the primary that your utility uses. Do not try to use your secondary gloves on primary! They are not rated for that voltage and you will be hurt or killed! For this reason, many utilities do not give their lineman secondary gloves. The rubber gloves will have leather protectors with them. Always use them. And also do not forget to check your protectors for holes either.








Clothes

This will vary from utility to utility because of the different arc flash ratings. Make sure you are wearing whatever your utility mandates. This will keep you safe in the event of a flash. In addition, most utilities now require flame retardant clothing. Do not wear any jewelry or watches or even metal belt buckles. In the event of an electrocution these items will act as heat sinks and burn your skin.

Safety Toe Shoes

Shoes with a safety toe will keep falling objects from crushing your toes. Make sure also that your shoes, or boots, are rated for electrical hazards. This will ensure that they are not building up static electricity as you walk.

Recommended

Face Shields

Face shields are one of the controversial pieces of safety equipment right now. Some people hate them, mainly the people wearing them, and some love them, mainly management. If your utility requires face shields, wear them. If your utility does not require face shields but provides them, use them when you think they may be necessary. Face shields can protect you in the event of a flash.

Rubber Sleeves

Rubber sleeves are something that you typically see lineman wearing working out of a bucket. But, they have their place in the metering world as well. If you are working in an enclosure such as a transformer it can be a good idea to use rubber sleeves to protect you in case of accidental contact.

Summary

PPE is important to you as a meter tech. Do not take it for granted. However, do not think that just because you are wearing all of the PPE your utility provides that you are working safely. There is no substitute for knowledge when it comes to safety. Learn the best practices for working safely from those around you. Just because you are wearing rubber gloves does not mean that you need to just go around touching all of the live conductors just be cause you can. Be cautious. Be safe. If it will be safer to turn something off to work on it, then plan an outage. And remember however, that safety is up to you not your company. You are the one who will go home to your family everyday not your company. Also remember that the list I provided above is just a basic list. Do what your company says. If I have left anything out let me know. Work at your own risk. I take no responsibility if you get hurt.








The Meter Technician Profession

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So you are thinking about getting into a career in the electric utility industry and you are not really sure what you want to do. There are several career paths that you could choose. A few are power lineman, or engineer, or even maintenance mechanic. What I want to persuade you to do is to think about becoming an electric Meter Technicians.

The electric meter technician is possibly a job that you have never even heard of. In addition, you may have never given any thought to becoming one. So what does and electric meter technician do?

Well, contrary to popular belief, metering technicians do more than just read watthour meters. We are not just “meter maids” as some lineman would have you think. Electric meter technicians do read electric watthour meters. But we meter techs also do much more than that.

To be an electric meter technician one should have, or be able to develop, a strong electrical background. Furthermore, you will want to have graduated high school. In addition, if possible, have taken some college courses in electrical theory. It would be even better if you could get an associate’s degree in electrical technology. This education will be helpful in understanding how watthour meters work and in understanding some of the more technical things like phasors. It will also help in understanding how the entire electric utility works as a whole.

Electric meter technicians test watthour electric meters either in the shop with test equipment or in the field with watthour meter test equipment. They also check residential, commercial and industrial metering installations for proper wiring and metering accuracy. There are field meter technicians who specialize in some of these areas. Some meter technicians only deal with residential metering installations and customers. Others deal only with commercial and industrial customers. While others may only stay in the shop and test watthour meters.

The ideal electric meter technician will be able to work outside all day. Outside the field meter technician will do things such as change out electric meters, check on high bill complaints, low consumption or stopped meter orders. Meter techs will also work outside installing new metering equipment on instrument rated metering applications.

The electric meter technician will also be called upon to explain billing to customers and have experience dealing with the public.







Many times customers do not understand their bill and the meter technician is usually the last person the customer will talk to. The customer has normally already called in and talked to someone on the phone. They were not satisfied over the phone and now want to talk with someone in person. The meter technician is that someone. Because of this the meter tech will need to have strong interpersonal skills to be able to answer the customer’s questions. In addition they will also need to be as professional as possible. You do not want to go out a customer’s residence or business dressed like a slob. That ruins your credibility right away.

Electric meter technicians will also need to be able to perform above basic tasks on the computer. Part of the job requires the meter technician to be able to program watthour meters, download information from the meters, create new programs for the meters as well as run reports out of the billing system to find out if there are any errors. You will need to have an eye for detail. Many times you will be looking for something that stands out as unusual. Being able to determine from that information if there is a problem that needs to be checked and repaired is crucial.

An ability to do algebra also comes in handy as well. Electric meter technicians also use many formulas to complete their work. If current transformers and potential transformers need to be installed you will need to know how to calculate the meter multiplier. Also, you will need to know how to size the current transformers to the service to be metered. Another thing that you will need to be able to do is calculate and electric bill with demand. Many times customers will not understand demand. So it will be up to you to explain it to them in a way they can understand. There will be times that you will need to explain the math to the customer so that they understand what is going on.

Being a meter technician is a highly rewarding career. Notice that I said career and not job. The electric meter technician is a specialized field and most who are in the field work until retirement. Which also means that there are not a ton of jobs available. So when you get one, keep it! Also worth noting is that it will typically take between 5-7 years to become fully proficient as a meter technician. But even then you will constantly be learning new technology.

So, with that I hope that you give the electric meter technician career a chance.








5 tips to saving energy when on vacation

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So you are ready to go on a long vacation and you are worried about your electric bill being high when you get back and you want to know if there is anything you can do to keep you bill low when you get back. Well, there are a few things that you can do to ensure that your electric bill is not through the roof. Most of these tips even work well if you are only going out of town for the weekend as well.

1. Turn off the water heater.

That’s right. An electric water heater is one of the largest consumers of electricity in your home next to the A/C. For a normal family, a water heater can account for as much as 25% of the electricity that is consumed in your home. To put it another way, they can easily uses 300 kwh per month which can equal $30 or more. Let’s understand why we would want to turn off our water heaters while we are out of town. The water heater has a thermostat inside just like the A/C does. What that means is the water heater will be keeping the water at that temperature regardless of whether you are in your home or you are one vacation. One argument that I always hear from people is that they want to be able to take a shower as soon as they get home from vacation and they do not want to be waiting on the water to get hot. Well, let me put your mind at ease. Most water heaters have about a 30 minute recovery. This means that it takes the water heater about 30 minutes to be full of hot water again. So, walk in from you vacation, turn the water heater back on and then unload your car and get ready to take your shower. By this time the water should be nice and hot for you to take a shower. The next question is, “how do I turn it off?” The most convenient way is in the breaker box. Find the breaker labeled as water heater and turn it off. Alternatively, there should be a disconnect at the water heater. You can pull this disconnect and this will turn off the water heater as well. I would only use the second method if you are comfortable dealing with electricity because it could be dangerous.

I want to note that I would not turn the water heater off if you live in a climate that freezes and it is the winter time when you will be gone. This is only recommended during the times when temperatures are above freezing.

2. Turn off the A/C

The A/C is the largest consumer of electricity in the home and because of this, you do not want to overlook it when you leave for vacation. Now, if you are hardcore, depending on the time of year, you will just turn off the A/C when you leave for vacation and turn it back on when you come home. But, if it is in the middle of summer you may want to ensure that the house is not an oven when you get back. My recommendation is to turn the thermostat up to at the very least 80 degrees in the summer time when you leave, higher if you think you can stand it. If you are going on  vacation in the winter time you will want to turn the thermostat down to at least 60 degrees. This will ensure that your A/C or heat are not running constantly while you are gone trying to keep your couch comfortable.







3. Unplug, unplug, unplug!

In this day in age when you turn your lights off at night you can just about still see everything because of all the lights from your devices that are still on. The lights may be from computers, television, gaming systems, microwaves, etc. Whatever the lights are coming from, they are drawing electricity to be kept on. Unplugging things that are not necessary to be on while you are gone, such as your wireless router (if you have networked security cameras you may need to leave that on). All of these little things do not use very much on their own but collectively they do add to your bill. Remember that nothing is free!

4. Turn off lights

This sounds like a no-brainer but many people forget to turn their lights off when they leave. Often times they will get home from vacation only to discover that they light in their bedroom or bathroom had been left on. Do a once over before you walk out the door and make sure that the lights are off. If you are going to leave a light on for security reasons, look at getting a timer so that it does not run all the time. Or, put in an LED bulb in that particular light fixture.

5. Turn off the water

I know this does not appear to have anything to do with electricity but if something happens while you are gone, such as a busted water line or a leaking toilet, you will be in for a big water bill. If the water line breaks and it is a hot water line and you have forgotten to turn off the water heater, it will constantly run trying to heat the water. Check the weather because this is only recommended during warmer temperatures.

6. Bonus!

If you are hardcore like me and you do not care if you have to reset your clocks when you get back then this tip is for you. When I go out of town on vacation, as long as it is not a time where we are having freezing temperatures, I just go and turn off my main breaker. If your main breaker is off, your electric meter will not turn while you are gone. This is how my power bills during the summer when I have been on vacation have been as low as $40 when the base charge takes up $20 of that $40.

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