Otis Singleton
Santa Clara, a city in California, is served by Silicon Valley Power (SVP), a municipal power company that provides electricity to its residents. SVP has been rolling out advanced electric meters, which offer detailed measurements of electricity usage and can be read remotely by the utility. These modern meters are replacing first-generation digital and mechanical meters, allowing customers to monitor their energy usage more easily. SVP Meter Connect advanced meters will enable customers to track their usage online or via a display in their homes. Notably, Santa Clara became the first utility in the nation to offer free Wi-Fi as a side benefit of its smart meter implementation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of meters | Advanced electric meters |
| Purpose | Accurate and detailed measurement of electricity usage |
| Measurement | Remotely read by the utility from its offices |
| Customer access | Monitor personal usage online or with a display in their home |
| Communication with appliances | SVP Meter Connect advanced meters will communicate with appliances in the home |
| Power problems and outages | Quick pinpointing of power problems and outages |
| Response | Faster response to trouble spots and confirmation when power is restored |
| Comparison with older meters | Replacing first-generation digital meters and antiquated mechanical meters that use 100-year-old technology |
| Customer control | Customers will have access to their ongoing energy usage |
| Display | Easy-to-read digital display instead of old-style dial indicators |
| Registration | Option to register on a free secure website to monitor usage |
| Installation | Meters are tested at the factory and again when they arrive in Santa Clara |
| Water meters | The City of Santa Clara may be installing new water meters |
| Funding | SVP will not be funding water meter replacements |
| Natural gas supplier | PG&E is the natural gas supplier for Santa Clara residents |
| Smart meters | PG&E has already installed smart meters for gas in Santa Clara |
| Wireless system | SVP MeterConnect system |
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What You'll Learn
SVP Meter Connect advanced meters
Santa Clara has smart electric meters, which are known as SVP Meter Connect® advanced meters. These meters are a part of the city's municipal electric utility, Silicon Valley Power. SVP Meter Connect® advanced meters offer accurate and detailed measurements of electricity usage that can be remotely read by the utility company. This technology is 10 times more accurate than mechanical meters and will allow customers to monitor and adjust their electricity usage, which is expected to lower electric bills.
SVP Meter Connect® advanced meters will also be able to communicate with appliances in the home that are programmed by the owner to operate at maximum efficiency, thereby reducing energy usage and cost. The advanced meters will allow Silicon Valley Power to quickly pinpoint power problems and outages, allowing a faster response to trouble spots and confirmation when power is restored.
SVP Meter Connect® advanced meters are also designed to address concerns about electromagnetic radiation (EMF) and radio frequency interference (RFI). The new meters use one-fourth or less of the transmitting power of other smart meters and significantly less than everyday household devices. In addition, the advanced meters transmit information less frequently and on fewer conflicting frequencies compared to other smart meters.
SVP has been testing the communications technology that connects meters and their readings to the utility and the customer since 2007. The advanced smart meter technology has been successfully implemented at over 300 million businesses and homes worldwide. An independent survey of Silicon Valley Power customers found that more than two-thirds of SVP customers (68%) consider advanced metering a good idea.
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Free Wi-Fi for Santa Clara
Santa Clara is a city in California that has become a free Wi-Fi city through its power utility, Silicon Valley Power. Silicon Valley Power is a not-for-profit city department that has been serving the community for over a hundred years. Its primary responsibility is to provide environmentally friendly power to the city at the lowest prices possible.
In 2016, Silicon Valley Power rolled out advanced power meters that offer accurate and detailed measurements of electricity usage. These meters can be read remotely by the utility from its offices, and customers can monitor their personal usage online or via a display in their homes. The advanced meters will also allow Silicon Valley Power to quickly identify power problems and outages and respond faster.
The rollout of these advanced meters had a side benefit of providing free Wi-Fi throughout the city of Santa Clara. This initiative, known as SVPMeterConnectWifi, was the first of its kind in the nation, offering free internet access to anyone within the city limits. With almost 600 transmitters installed across the city, residents and visitors can enjoy free Wi-Fi, especially outdoors near the transmitters.
The free Wi-Fi in Santa Clara is a groundbreaking initiative, made possible by the combination of a failed Wi-Fi venture and the existence of a municipal power utility. This dual-purpose system not only provides accurate electricity usage data but also enhances connectivity for the entire community. Santa Clara's free Wi-Fi is a testament to the city's commitment to embracing technology and innovation for the benefit of its residents and visitors.
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$42.99
Radio frequency interference (RFI)
Santa Clara has advanced electric meters, which are different from smart meters. These advanced meters transmit information less frequently, at a lower power, and on fewer frequencies that conflict with household devices. This is done to reduce radio frequency interference (RFI) that may affect common household electronic devices. Silicon Valley Power (SVP), the municipal power company in Santa Clara, is closely monitoring the RFI testing carried out by independent consumer and government entities.
To prevent RFI issues, SVP has chosen to use advanced meters that transmit information less frequently and at a lower power compared to traditional smart meters. Additionally, the meters use fewer frequencies that conflict with household devices, further reducing the potential for interference. This careful approach to the deployment of advanced meters allows SVP to learn from the experiences of other utilities and work to avoid or remedy RFI problems.
While SVP's advanced meters reduce the potential for RFI, it is important to note that they are not entirely immune to interference. As such, SVP continues to closely monitor RFI testing carried out by independent consumer and government entities. This proactive approach enables SVP to stay informed about any emerging RFI issues and take appropriate action to address them.
In conclusion, while Santa Clara's advanced electric meters are designed to minimise RFI, the city remains vigilant in monitoring and addressing any potential interference issues. This commitment ensures that residents can benefit from accurate and reliable meter readings, while also enjoying the conveniences of modern technology without unnecessary disruptions.
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Remote reading of water meters
Santa Clara has adopted smart electric meters as part of its power utility service. The city offers free Wi-Fi to its residents, which was made possible by the installation of almost 600 transmitters throughout the city, an initiative that was undertaken in tandem with the smart meter rollout.
The remote reading of water meters is a process that utilizes IoT (Internet of Things) sensors to transmit real-time data on water consumption. This technology offers several advantages, including more accurate data collection, easier leak detection, reduced energy consumption associated with manual meter reading, and improved knowledge of water consumption patterns, which can facilitate sustainable management solutions.
One example of a remote water meter reading system is READy, which can be used to collect data from smart meters and devices. READy offers flexibility, as it can be adjusted to meet different needs and expanded over time. It supports both wired and wireless M-Bus connections, allowing for remote reading of meters either directly from a car or through fixed data collection units installed in the supply area.
Another option is the RRS System, which can accommodate direct wired or wireless applications. It offers two methods of reading data: directly from a receiver mounted on the property or via a cloud service accessible from any internet source. The cloud service option provides flexibility with various connection types, including CellConnect, Ethernet cable, or WiFi.
To ensure data security, which is a crucial issue in remote water meter reading, several technologies have been developed. These include data routing, which involves encrypting data and sending it through multiple paths to prevent hacking, and the use of private APNs and AES128 encryption with the LoRaWAN network to isolate the IoT network and secure data transmission.
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Time of Use (TOU) rates
Santa Clara has advanced meters for electricity and water services, provided by Silicon Valley Power (SVP), a not-for-profit city department. SVP is committed to serving the community with environmentally friendly power at the lowest prices possible.
SVP Meter Connect® advanced meters offer accurate and detailed measurements of electricity usage that can be remotely read by the utility from its offices. In the future, customers will be able to monitor their personal usage online or via a display in their homes. This will allow customers to understand their energy usage better and help them achieve substantial savings.
SVP currently offers lower electric rates to Santa Clara residents around the clock, making electric vehicle (EV) operations five times cheaper than gasoline and diesel-powered cars. SVP has no plans to expand its TOU option at present, preferring a simple and low-cost rate structure with rates 25-44% lower than nearby utilities.
SVP is committed to environmental responsibility and provides incentives to solar customers. Santa Clara has adopted Rate Schedule NM (NM1.0) to comply with the legislature for net metering, which requires utilities to offer a net metering rate until eligible customer-generator demand exceeds 5% of the electric utility's aggregate customer peak demand. SVP has not reached this 5% threshold and will continue to offer incentives to solar customers even after exceeding it.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Santa Clara has smart electric meters.
The SVP Meter Connect® advanced meters provide accurate and detailed measurements of electricity usage that can be remotely read by the utility from its offices.
Santa Clara is the first utility in the nation to offer free Wi-Fi as part of the smart meter rollout.
The advanced meters will allow SVP to quickly pinpoint power problems and outages, allowing a faster response to trouble spots and confirmation when your power is restored.
