Perfect Power: Smart Meters
In a Perfect Power System, every electricity consumer would be equipped with a smart meter that receives real-time information about the price of power and conveys that information to the consumer and his or her smart appliances and end-use devices.
Why is it better?
- Reliability: Smart meters conveying price information received from the utility grid could automatically prompt consumers and their end-use appliances to use less energy at a specific time, thereby relieving stress on the utility grid.
- Efficiency: Smart meters enable smart appliances and end-use devices to obtain and automatically respond to real-time price signals in order to best serve the needs of each consumer.
- Cost: Numerous studies show that when consumers know exactly how much they are paying for energy, they not only pay less but also use less, particularly during high power demand and high-cost periods.
