Posted on October 10, 2018
Entergy will install new electrical meters at homes and businesses statewide 2019-2021
Entergy Corporation will install new meters at the homes and businesses of more than 700,000 Arkansas customers starting in 2019.
The project will take two years to complete.
The company said the “advanced metering” system will identify outages identified more accurately, leading to faster response times. Billing and service questions will be answered more efficiently. The new meters also offer potential as energy saving tools for customers.
The project is already under way with the design and build of the communications network and IT systems taking place over the past two years. Network equipment installation on electric poles and structures began in September.
“The (Arkansas Public Service Commission’s) forward-thinking commissioners have approved our plan to install advanced meters at the homes and businesses we serve throughout Arkansas,” said Laura Landreaux, Entergy Arkansas president and CEO. “These meters represent not only the foundation for building grid modernization technologies, but also our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible service, safely and securely to our communities.”
Upgrading to advanced meters has numerous benefits, including:
— New online tools will be available to customers that help them better understand and manage energy usage more effectively, which can lead to energy usage reduction and potentially lower bills.
— No more waiting until the end of the month to review energy usage. Via the online tools, customers can log into their account and view how much electricity has been used the day prior, shown in 15-minute increments.
— With better information, Entergy Arkansas can answer customers’ billing and service questions more quickly and effectively, improving customer service.
— The company will have a clearer real-time picture of the power grid and how it is operating. Outages can be identified more accurately, so crews can arrive on the scene more quickly to make repairs.
Advanced metering is digital technology that enables secure two-way communication between the customer and Entergy Arkansas. Each meter is equipped with a network radio. The radio transmits meter readings to the electric network access point, housed on an electric pole near the meter. This data is then transmitted to the utility through a secure cellular network.
Once a customer’s meter is installed, they may access their online account to view daily energy use, displayed in 15-minute increments.
Advanced metering also brings opportunities for potential new programs that can help further reduce customers’ energy usage and better support environmentally sustainable communities.