DETROIT - DTE Energy today announced plans to install an
additional 450,000 advanced electric meters and gas
modules by the end of 2013, including 120,000 in Ann
Arbor and Washtenaw County.
More than 1 million DTE Energy customers will have the
technology by the end of next year.
The technology provides the backbone for DTE Energy's
smart circuit infrastructure, which will allow electric
customers to communicate with the company, provide
detailed information about their energy usage and
recognize power outages without customer input.
The meters incorporate technology that will allow them to
be read remotely and provide a wide range of optional
benefits to customers, as well as operational savings
through increased efficiencies to DTE Energy.
"Our advanced metering program will provide our customers
with new technology that is both safe and secure," said
Vince Dow, DTE Energy vice president, Distribution
Operations. "This technology will allow us to quickly
locate and reduce the length of power outages and other
problems, virtually eliminate estimated bills through
automated meter reading and remotely connect and
disconnect service, which means faster, less intrusive
service."
The digital meter technology will serve as a platform
that will provide remote monitoring of the electric
distribution system and allow customers to better manage
their energy usage and bills.
About 650,000 advanced meters have been installed, mostly
in Oakland County communities.
DTE Energy will begin installing about 120,000 advanced
meters this month in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti
Township, then move to Ann Arbor Township and Barton
Hills in March. Work will begin in Dexter, Dexter
Township and Scio Township in April, and in Saline,
Saline Township, Superior Township and Whitmore Lake in
May. Residents in Chelsea, Manchester, Milan and York
Township will see new meters beginning in June.
Future installation areas will be announced as
implementation nears.
Other customer benefits are many:
· Manual meter reading is eliminated,
which means vastly fewer estimated bills and improved
billing accuracy
· Provides customers with online
access to their individual energy usage
· Allows remote turn-on/turn-off and
reconnect/disconnect capabilities without the wait for a
service technician
· Theft and tamper detection
· New products and rate options
available.
Customers will benefit because the company will know, to
an individual meter, the extent of a power outage and how
best to respond to that outage.
DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified
energy company involved in the development and management
of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its
operating units include Detroit Edison, an electric
utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern
Michigan, MichCon, a natural gas utility serving 1.2
million customers in Michigan and other non-utility,
energy businesses focused on gas storage and pipelines,
unconventional gas production, power and industrial
projects, and energy trading. Information about DTE
Energy is available at dteenergy.com,
twitter.com/dte_energy and
facebook.com/dteenergy.
For further information, members of the media may
contact:
Scott Simons, (313) 235-8808, simonss@dteenergy.com
Len Singer, (313) 235-8809, singerl@dteenergy.com
Recommend:
