ATLANTA, June 2, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Looking to improve efficiency and customer service, more than half of electric utilities use, plan to use or are considering using automated meter reading (AMR) to remotely connect and disconnect customers, says a new report from energy research leader Chartwell Inc.
Of those electric utilities, 3% use AMR for on/off, 18% plan to use it and 34% are considering it, states the recently released Remote Connect/Disconnect for Utilities report. The research is based on Chartwell's 2004 AMR survey of 119 utilities. Remotely connecting/disconnecting customers can help utilities increase revenue assurance efficiency for delinquent accounts and enhance customer service capabilities for rental and seasonally occupied premises.
Remote connect/disconnect modules can be installed as a meter add-on to AMR -- often as an integrated part of the meter or collar -- or without AMR. Similar to applications for hard-to-access or off-cycle meters, remote connect/disconnect applications provide concrete paybacks more likely to gain executive approval than subjective, "soft" benefits, states the report. Savings can be substantial given that some utilities make thousands or even hundreds of thousands off-cycle trips each year at an estimated cost of $20 to $100 per trip.
But while regulatory acceptance is improving, cost continues to be an obstacle for the application. Remote collars can cost $250 each, states the report.
One of three case studies in Remote Connect/Disconnect for Utilities describes how one small cooperative collected $10,000 in the 24 hours after remotely turning off delinquent customers. Another case study describes why the success of a pilot has led Exelon Corp. to consider using AMR to remotely turn customers on and off in its Chicago and Philadelphia territories.
Remote Connect/Disconnect for Utilities, which is available for $395, is part of Chartwell's Metering Research Series -- the only unbiased and continuous research service devoted exclusively to the AMR industry. Annual series membership can include access to:
-- more than 30 AMR-related reports;
-- AMR-related reports released during the membership term, most
with at least two utility case studies;
-- monthly intelligence reports on AMR trends and technologies; and
-- past and current annual reports focusing on AMR surveys of 100-
plus utilities.
For more information about Remote Connect/Disconnect for Utilities or The Metering Research Series, please contact Bill Grist at (800) 432-5879 or (404) 237-9099, or visit www.energylibrary.com.