September 13, 2010
A few weeks ago, I had mentioned that a Smart Meter was installed at my house. Since then, I’ve been eagerly trying to figure out how it works. I’d been keeping up with the recent press on Smart Meters, but they’d been mainly focused on describing the overall benefits (and complications) with this new technology. I already get that.
My quest this week was to literally figure out how to read the face of my new meter. I spent hours on the phone with PG&E. I wanted to share my findings, so you don’t have to do the same!
1. The starting point for my meter is 88888.
This is an LED check to make sure the unit is functioning as it should. The lower part of the panel shows the incoming number of volts at that time.
2. The next 5-digit number is the total kWh of consumption from the time the Smart Meter was installed to the moment one reads the panel.
This is cumulative. I was disappointed to discover that my kWh usage isn’t cleared every month, or year — even if someone else purchases our home! If we ever reach 99999 kWh of usage, the meter starts over again from 00000. To know your energy usage for a certain time period, you have to record the total kWh reading at the beginning and end of your test period, and subtract. For example, night reading – morning reading = how much energy I used during the day. At this point, the screen reads “AdI” at the bottom left side, which stands for Advanced Distribution Infrastructure. This is a fancy way of saying that the device is communicating with the network.
3. The final screen in the three screen cycle still shows my usage on the main display, but the smaller numbers at the bottom change to show the electric usage at my home at this time in kilowatts.
When you’re using energy from the grid, a small the readout displays “Delivered”, meaning delivered power from my utility. For my meter, the fun stops here. But, I have been on customer site visits and seen the Smart Meter in action as our customers feed energy back in the grid. When the meter is “running backwards” and your system is putting energy back onto the utility grid, the meter indicates received power going to the utility.
For more information on reading the face of Smart Meters, check out these links:
PG&E: http://www.pge.com/myhome/customerservice/smartmeter/reading/
SDG&E: http://www.sdge.com/smartmeter/readMeter.shtml
SRP: http://www.srpnet.com/electric/home/readmeter.aspx
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
THIS DOES NOT TELL ME HOW TO READ MY SUNRUN METER.
YOUR WHOLE WEBSITE IS USELESS TO SUNRUN SUBSCRIBERS.
BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT ABOUT MY METER, AND WHAT ELECTRIC I AM PRODUCING.
Hey James, thanks for letting us know how you feel! Hopefully we address some of your concern. Normally, your SunRun meter will cycle through five screens:
1. Today’s date
2. Today’s time (this will be displayed in 24-hour Pacific Time – e.g. 4:12pm will be shown as 16 12).
3. SSI Code
4. Screen test – The screen will flash the number 8 across the screen.
5. Total solar electricity your system has produced, in kWh.
The SSI code is the 5-digit number following the letters, SSI. The first three numbers are often 105, 106, or 180.
The first three numbers and what they mean:
106: SunRun has activated this meter and it is successfully reporting data to SunRun.
105: SunRun has not yet activated this meter. SunRun is awaiting written confirmation from the utility.
180: The meter has been reporting, but has not sent data in at least 24 hours. Coverage may be spotty.
If the first digit is not 1, please contact SunRun Customer Care at 1.855.478.6786 x2.
The last two numbers will range from 0 to 35, and indicates the strength of the wireless signal, 0 being the weakest signal, and 35 being the strongest signal.