CenterPoint Energy has selected eMeter’s EnergyIP meter data management system (MDMS) to support CenterPoint Energy’s rollout of two million smart meters. CenterPoint Energy received Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas approval on December 2008 to install smart meters, related communication equipment and back office systems. Installations will begin in March 2009 and be completed by 2013.
eMeter’s EnergyIP MDMS will be used to capture 15 minute usage data provided by the smart meters and route home area network commands. The new metering technology is a key step in CenterPoint’s upgrading of its electric system to a Smart Grid. It will encourage greater energy conservation by giving Houston-area electric consumers the ability to better monitor and manage their electric use and cost in near real-time. CenterPoint Energy has conducted extensive testing and has seen excellent results from smart metering technology through a pilot deployment of smart meters that began in late 2006. EnergyIP has been used in that initial deployment.
EnergyIP will also provide outage and restoration event services to support the CenterPoint Energy’s Outage Management System as well as electric service connection and disconnection, which should reduce the time required for customers to have new electric service connected or to switch REPs.
