Cobb Electric Membership Chooses AMI Technology for Smart Grid Program

Cobb Electric Membership Corp., one of the nation’s largest electric cooperatives serving the northwest metro Atlanta area and a four-county southwest Georgia area, has selected Sensus to deliver smart grid solutions to its nearly 200,000 members. The smart grid program will include the Sensus FlexNet advanced metering infrastructure technology and smart meters for greater operational efficiency, automated hourly meter reads and support for future applications.

Cobb EMC chose to deploy the Sensus FlexNet system because it communicates via a dedicated, FCC-licensed spectrum, ensuring secure and reliable data transmissions. In addition, the FlexNet technology can easily integrate with other utility systems to support distribution automation, load management, time-of-use pricing and an in-home energy use monitoring program for customers. The project, partially financed by a grant from the US Department of Energy, will also include Sensus iCon

"Partnering with Sensus enables us to provide a scalable, standards-based solution that will help us more effectively monitor and manage the distribution of electricity," said Chip Nelson, Chief Operating Officer for Cobb EMC. "We will now be able to automate meter reads, removing an anticipated 30 trucks off the road, and leverage greater intelligence for applications such as proactive detection of outages."

Cobb has planned an extensive customer education program to support the transition. In addition to leveraging local media and their Web site to share detailed information, each customer will receive a letter shortly before their meter is replaced explaining the benefits and reasoning behind the smart grid program. The utility plans to follow-up with personal phone calls. The education program will also include brochures, door hangers and advertisements that provide additional information and resources for those with questions and concerns. As the utility moves toward implementing time-of-use pricing and load management programs in 2011, customers will receive information on ways to better manage energy use to reduce their bills.