DTE Energy has installed its 3 millionth advanced meter. Advanced meters help customers reduce energy use and monthly bills while also improving reliability. The entire installation project is expected to finish nearly two years ahead of schedule, and by the end of 2016 nearly 4 million electric and gas meters will be converted.
DTE continually looks for new ways to leverage advanced meter technology to the benefit of customers, and the company has been a national leader in its efforts.
"We are proud of this accomplishment, and by the end of this year virtually all of our customers will have this excellent tool to manage their energy use and save money," said Ron May, DTE Energy executive vice president, Major Enterprise Projects. "With nearly 80 percent of the installations complete so far, we're focused on ensuring people understand the benefits of advanced meters and how to make the most out of this safe and secure technology."
The advanced meter technology also allows DTE Energy to:
- Quickly locate and reduce the length of power outages and other problems
- Virtually eliminate estimated bills through advanced meter reading, which can be read remotely
- Remotely connect and disconnect residential service, which means faster, less intrusive service. In most cases, customers no longer will have to wait for a service technician to visit their home to stop or start service
DTE recently was recognized as an industry role model for its customer-focused approach in the development of energy efficiency projects. The award-winning DTE Insight app allows customers with advanced meters to monitor real time energy use and experience savings from their smart phone. DTE is the first utility nationwide to offer a real-time, mobile energy tracking and management tool to its customers. It is available for free download for iPhone and Android devices.
More than 2.2 million advanced electric meters have been installed in Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Monroe and Washtenaw counties so far. In addition, nearly 800,000 modules have been installed on gas meters in Iron, Marquette, Dickinson, Alger, Delta, Menominee, Chippewa, Emmet, Charlevoix, Preseque Isle, Leelanau, Antrim, Alpena, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Crawford, Oscoda, Alcona, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Mason, Lake, Osceola, Clare, Gladwin, Arenac, Oceana, Newaygo, Mecosta, Isabella, Muskegon, Montcalm, Gratiot and Clinton counties.
The remaining electric meter installations will occur in Huron, Tuscola, Sandusky, Lapeer, Wayne, Macomb and St. Clair County later this year. The next wave of installations is expected to begin in April. Advanced gas meter installations are slated for Manistee, Cheboygan, Kent, Ionia, Ottawa and Allegan later this year.
To accomplish this, DTE Energy has partnered with Itron, Inc., a technology and services company, to install smart electric meters and communication modules for gas meters. Electric and gas meters are owned, operated and maintained by DTE Energy.