Aging analog
meters can malfunction for many reasons. Even something as simple as the sun
baking off the hands on the dial, if undiscovered, could result in a back-bill.
MLGW’s system includes more than one million meters of
various sizes and ages. While MLGW tracks meter age as part of its ongoing meter
replacement program, when a meter stops functioning it’s not often detected
immediately.
Here’s how a stopped meter resulted in big electric
charges for one customer last year —and how smart meters would have prevented
the situation.
A meter reader obtained the monthly electric meter reading
at the customer's home and entered it in the system. The reading was the same as
the previous month’s which would seem to indicate that no electricity had been
consumed. The same electric meter reading was obtained again the following
month, which triggered a manual process to determine whether the analog meter
had stopped working. During this time, the customer’s meter indicated zero
usage—which means there were no charges for the electricity being used at the
home. When the malfunctioning meter was replaced, MLGW charged the customer for
previously unbilled electricity. The customer went from no charge for a false
zero consumption reading to a nearly $400 bill for actual consumption which her
broken meter failed to record.
With smart meters, MLGW would know almost immediately if a
meter has stopped working. MLGW would be able to replace the meter
and charge the customer for actual usage during each month, so the practice of
back-billing would be unnecessary. Smart meters will enhance MLGW’s operations
and improve customer service—and that’s smart for everyone.
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