Meter
Search for your questions using the categories to the right. Don’t see it? No problem. Ask it using the “Have a Question?” button to the right. An Oncor representative will e-mail you, letting you know that Oncor experts are working on finding your answer. It’s just one more way Oncor is working to become a trusted adviser to the people we serve.
You may also visit www.smarttexas.com for more information about Oncor’s smart meters.
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Is it true in 2014 that there will be control of appliances from the electric meter and that the government. or others would be able to take over control of the operation of appliances?
Control of Texans’ appliances is entirely in their hands.
• If customers choose to buy appliances they can access remotely via applications they install (for example, a DVR they can set from their smart phone) that’s their decision. Our meters enable them to use those devices, but that’s their business – not ours, nor the government’s.
• Texas law requires strict data privacy. Oncor shares customer information only with the Retail Electric Provider a customer chooses or parties expressly authorized by the customer. This requirement has been in place since the Texas Electric deregulated market opened in January 2002. It’s one of many ways Texas differs from other states, where regulatory bodies are now developing such rules.
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Are there negative health effects related to the radio frequency that the smart meter uses to transmit data?
No credible scientific evidence suggests the weak and intermittent radio-frequency (RF) signals used by advanced meters pose a health or safety risk to the public.
• Advanced meters, like many other two-way communication devices such as baby monitors, use RF signals to transmit data. The RF output of a typical smart meter is well below the output of an average cell phone.
• Advanced meters comply with all Federal Standards and State Requirements and guidelines for RF exposure set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the America National Standards Institute (ANSI).
• The World Health Organization classified radio frequencies (RF) possible health effects in the same category as talc, peroxide, coffee and pickles.
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Could someone obtain a device that would be capable of downloading my meter readings to determine if consumption is taking place so they would know when I am out of town?
No. In fact Oncor has always vigilantly protected customers’ usage data using security measures comparable to global financial institutions.
• In Texas, smart meter data is accessible only to the Retail Electric Provider of a customer’s choice or a third party only if expressly authorized by the customer.
• Usage data on the SmartMeterTexas.com Portal is accessible only to a customer who registers securely to access their own account information.
• Oncor shares customers’ concern for privacy and safety.
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Why does Oncor have the right to come on my property?
Oncor is authorized to access property as part of our responsibility for providing safe, efficient delivery of electric service. Oncor’s duly authorized representatives have the right to access your property for the purpose of restoring service; to inspect, erect, install, maintain, upgrade, convert, remove or replace wiring; read the meter and to perform other activities necessary to provide service. Oncor will come on your property only when it is necessary.
Oncor employees who need to access your property always have an Oncor ID badge on them. They are happy to show you their badge or give you their manager’s phone number for confirmation that they are there to do required work. If ever fearful for your safety, please call 9-1-1.
-Kevin F., Oncor Legal Expert
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How do you read meters?
Oncor’s meter readers physically inspect the meter on a specified day each month to obtain the reading from manually read meters.
For advanced meters, readings are transmitted by the meter through a communications network. The advanced meter sends data, primarily electricity consumption, to computer systems to report data.
-Kris M., Oncor Meter Expert
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Why am I getting a new smart meter?
Advanced meters will help you manage your energy usage better than ever before. For example, once deployed, your advanced meter, through additional monitoring equipment inside your home, will allow you to monitor your electricity usage throughout the day instead of just when you receive your monthly bill. You can also monitor your energy usage through your computer on a day-after basis through the state's Smart Meter Texas portal at www.smartmetertexas.com. With this knowledge, consumers will be able to manage their energy usage and ultimately, lower their bills if they choose.
Advanced meters will also allow Oncor to improve its response to power outages. Prior to advanced meters, Oncor in many cases did not know if there was an outage unless a consumer called to report it. In the near future, advanced meters will immediately let Oncor know when outages have occurred and also when power has been restored. Ultimately, advanced meters and associated systems will further improve Oncor’s reliability and safety by allowing potential problems on its distribution system to be pinpointed and fixed before customers even realize there were problems and before outages occur.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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What is an AMS meter? Is this an advanced meter or a smart meter? When will I get my meter?
AMS stands for Advanced Metering System. Electrical energy that is used by a home or business is measured by some sort of meter. The old electromechanical meters used today at many homes and small businesses are generally based on 50-year-old technology. While these meters do a great job of reliably and accurately measuring the amount of electricity consumed, they do not provide the kind of information needed by consumers today to allow them to be smarter about how they use electricity.
Oncor's AMS replaces its 50-year-old meter technology with advance meters — modern, electronic meters — and supporting communication and information management systems. Consumers will have access to near-real-time information that they need to better manage their electricity usage. Oncor's AMS will also ultimately enable Retail Electric Providers to develop and offer new, innovative rate plans that will provide additional ways for consumers to lower their bills.
Oncor began installing the new advance meters across its service territory in 2008 and will finish deploying more than 3 million advanced meters by 2012. To find out when you will be getting your new, advance meter, visit www.smarttexas.com.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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How accurate are the new smart meters?
Both advance meters and older electromechanical meters are very accurate. The advance meters simply have greater capabilities, such as helping consumers manage their energy and bills through access to energy usage on a real-time basis. It’s similar to the difference between a rotary phone and cell phones – both allow you to call who you want, one just provides greater benefits to the user than the other.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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Can you disconnect and reconnect smart meters remotely?
Yes. Oncor’s deployment of the new advance meters allows for the capability of disconnecting and reconnecting meters remotely. Right now, this only applies to residential and small commercial meters.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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I don’t have a new smart meter yet, so why am I already paying for it on my electric bill?
Following guidance from state law and the state utility regulator, we believe this is the most cost effective manner for deploying these meters. This is a significant investment for the company, and we believe that our proposal reflects a reasonable cost for providing the maximum benefits to consumers. The time period for recovery of the costs of buying and installing the advance meters and system would be the same regardless of when the surcharge began. In addition, the installation of the advanced metering system will allow Oncor to detect and respond to power outages more quickly and improve the reliability of Oncor’s system, which benefits all customers on Oncor’s system regardless of whether they have received a advance meter.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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How is a meter test performed?
A specially trained Meter Technician performs the meter test using certified meter test equipment called a Meter Verifier. The verifier has a known accuracy and is compared to the meter under test at full load and light load conditions and registers the results in percentage of registration. The results of the meter test are recorded and stored as part of the meter record. Public Utility Commission of Texas rules require that the meter accuracy be maintained in accordance with American National Standards Institute standards of between 98 and 102 percent of actual load.
Kris M., Oncor Meter Expert
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Can the meter reader knock on the door before reading the meter?
It only takes the meter reader a few seconds to read the meter. Oncor, like most utilities, has made the policy decision to not trouble homeowners with knocking on the door to let them know they are going to be in the yard. In addition to the inconvenience to the homeowner, the added minutes to knock on the door and talk to the homeowner would require that we increase the number of meter readers significantly. In some locations, meters are read from the alley behind the house or the meter reader enters the yard from the alley. This makes it impracticable for the reader to knock on the door before reading the meters.
Eventually, new advance meters will make the need for meter reader to physically read the meters unnecessary.
-Kris M., Oncor Meter Expert
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How can my smart meter help me use energy more wisely and is there additional equipment I'll need? Where do I get the equipment, and who pays for it?
Advance meters will help you manage your energy usage better than ever before. Once deployed, you can monitor your energy usage through your computer on a day-after basis through the state's Smart Meter Texas portal at www.smartmetertexas.com, instead of just when you receive your monthly bill. With this knowledge, you can manage your energy usage and ultimately, lower your bill if you choose.
Additional monitoring equipment like an in-home display, which will soon be available for purchase, will work with your new advance meter and will also help you monitor your electricity usage throughout the day. An in-home display is a wireless device that easily installs anywhere in the home. It electronically talks to the advance meter to display how much electricity is being consumed in the home and can convert that usage into a dollar amount to show how much you are spending with the click of a button. For those that are environmentally conscious, it can also show your carbon footprint based on your current electricity usage. All of these capabilities are enabled by the Oncor Advanced Metering System. In-home displays should soon be available for purchase from your Retail Electric Provider (REP), sometimes along with new electric plans, or at a retail home specialty store.
-Jon P., Oncor Advance Meter Expert
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What is the time frame for a customer requested meter test?
A customer meter test is normally completed within two weeks. This may vary based upon the volume of pending meter test requests.
To request a meter test, call the number listed on your electric bill.
-Jon P., Oncor Advance Meter Expert
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When will I get my smart meter?
Oncor began installing the new advance meters across its service territory in 2008 and will finish deploying more than 3 million advanced meters by 2012. To find out when you will be getting your new, advanced meter, visit www.smarttexas.com and click on “the Advanced Meter Deployment Schedule.” Here, you can view a map of the deployment schedule or type in your ESI ID number (located on your electric bill) to find the time frame for when your home or business will be getting a new smart meter.
-Jon P., Oncor Advance Meter Expert
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I heard Oncor's advanced meters are made in Mexico. Why is Oncor charging me extra for the meters but outsourcing the manufacturing work to a foreign country?
Following good business practices, Oncor selected our meter vendor through a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process. Our current vendor, Landis & Gyr, does manufacture many of the meters being used by Oncor in Mexico. In order to receive a competitive price, Oncor did not specify where meters were manufactured. Oncor has performed a quality assurance inspection to the plant to ensure standards are maintained. In addition, a random sampling of all meters received by Oncor is tested to validate performance.
The Oncor AMS surcharge of $2.19 each month for the next 11 years is being charged to all customers in the Oncor service area. The cost of the meters accounts for approximately one-half of the AMS surcharge. The other half of the surcharge is primarily for information technology and network telecom services conducted in the Oncor service area. The surcharge cost is minimal compared to the savings you can expect by reducing your demand and one of the lowest in the nation for this technology. One way you can offset this fee is to replace a 100-watt light bulb with an Energy Star CFL light bulb, which can save you more than $2.30 a month.
-Jon P., Oncor Advance Meter Expert
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I've heard some confusing stories in the media about the smart meters. When will you be installing them at my house? Do I have the option of keeping my current meter?
While there have been some confusing stories in the media lately, we know that both advance meters and electromechanical meters are equally accurate. The advance meters have greater capability and additional functionality. They help consumers manage their energy and bills through access to energy usage on a real-time basis through home area network devices and through tracking your usage on a day-after delay on the www.smartmetertexas.com portal. It’s similar to the difference between a rotary phone and cell phones – both allow you to call who you want, one just provides greater information and benefits to the user than the other.
Oncor conducted multiple side-by-side demonstrations comparing the old electromechanical meters to the new advanced meters and thousands of advanced meter tests at customer requests. All have been found to measure consumption accurately. An independent study was also conducted by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The study also validated that advanced meters are very accurate.
Every Oncor customer will need to have a advanced meter, as once the installation in your area is complete, there will be no way for us to read your old meter. Oncor is dedicated to providing this enhanced capability to its customers in the most cost effective manner. Not only will having a advanced meter give you greater control over your electric consumption and bills, but it will also allow us to deliver even more reliable electricity to customers like you, as power can be restored quicker and without human intervention when outages occur. In order for Oncor to use meter information for increased reliability and efficiency, all customers must have their meters replaced.
To view when your home will be getting a advanced meter, visit www.smarttexas.com and click on “New Deployment Schedule.” Here, you can view a map of the deployment schedule or type in your ESI ID number (located on your electric bill) to find the time frame for when your home or business will be getting a new advanced meter.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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Part of the promise of the new advanced meters was consumers would be able to purchase in-home energy monitors that provided data directly from the meter, but there aren’t any available for sale that I can find. How do I purchase one of these in-home monitors?
Since the Oncor deployment is the largest rollout anywhere of ZigBee-enabled advanced meters, we’re also anxious to see these In-Home Displays (IHDs) locally available. At Oncor, we want to make the customer experience as great as possible, so we have been working with many IHD vendors over the last few months through ZigBee engineering workshops and the Oncor Home Area Network testing lab to ensure these devices work as expected. Oncor has currently validated 17 devices from 13 vendors to work well with the Oncor smart grid; however, none of these vendors have made these devices commercially available yet. We do not have availability dates from any of these IHD vendors at this time but expect to see production devices available before the end of the year.
–Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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Now that I have a new advanced meter, will a meter reader still come to physically read my meter, or will Oncor be able to read it remotely?
Eventually, new advanced meters will make the need for a meter reader to physically read the meters unnecessary. However, after you initially get your advanced meter, a meter reader will need to come by your home at least one more time until the meter is provisioned. A advanced meter has been provisioned when we have manually confirmed that the new meter has registered usage and correctly communicated information through the smart grid system. This generally occurs 30 – 60 days after the meter has been installed.
If you just recently got your smart meter, you should still plan on the meter reader coming by for at least the next reading. After that month, you can call Oncor’s call center at 1.888.313.6862 to ask if your meter will need to be read manually again or if it has been provisioned.
-Kris M., Oncor Meter Expert
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Home Area Network (HAN) devices are now supported with new advanced meters, but Retail Electric Providers (REP) do not offer a wide range of devices. Will customers be able to use a self-supported HAN device from a source other than an REP with the Oncor advanced meter?
Customers will not have to purchase HAN devices from their REP. Customers connect their own HAN devices to their local meter via the Smart Meter Texas portal at www.smartmetertexas.com. Oncor expects HAN devices to be commercially available later in 2011.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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My new advanced meter has a label on it warning about hazardous voltages inside the meter, including battery terminals. If there is a battery inside, how long will it last, and what will happen when that battery fails in the future? How will its ageing affect the accuracy of the meter?
In some specific cases, the advanced meters may have batteries. However, for most all of the residential and small commercial meters, there are no batteries. The accuracy of the meter is not affected by a loss of power nor is already stored data from the meter. Oncor meters have a large capacitor inside that allows the meter to send a "last gasp" message, so Oncor may be notified when a loss of power occurs. As with any electrical device, shock hazards exist inside the body of the device. Covers should not be removed by non-qualified meter personnel and is considered tampering, a hazardous crime.
-Jon P., Oncor Smart Advanced Expert
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How do I read my new advanced meter?
Oncor’s Smart Texas website has a PDF detailing how to read your advanced meter. Basically, the display on a smart meter automatically cycles through four views — the segment check, the service switch status, the kilowatt-hour (kWh) reading and the kilowatt (kW) demand reading.
During the segment check cycle, the advanced meter is checking to ensure that the display’s LCD segments are working properly. During this test, the word “TEST” can be seen near the bottom left-hand side of the display, along with a series of 0’s and 8’s across the screen. If not, an error message will appear.
During the service switch status cycle, the screen will either read “CLS” or “OPN.” CLS indicates that the service switch is in the closed position and that power is being delivered to the customer. OPN indicates that the switch is open and that power is not being delivered to the customer.
The current kWh reading is the display you need when determining your usage. When the display is in the kWh reading, the current kilowatt-hours being used at this location will be shown. The kWh display is identified by the “001” code on the leftmost side and the “kWh” symbol on the right.
Finally, the kW demand reading represents the maximum average value of power over a 15-minute period for the billing period. The kW demand display is identified by the “020” code on the leftmost side and the “kW” symbol on the right.
Unlike the traditional meter, where the dial hand continuously indicates the value of the least significant digit, the rightmost digit on a digital meter does not increment to the next higher number until that value of kWh or kW is actually attained. In effect, the advanced meter rounds down and thus may not always appear to be exactly in-sync with the traditional meter due to the rounding effect.
If you’ve had your advanced meter for at least 30 days, you can register on the Smart Meter Texas portal to view your usage in 15-minute increments on a day-after basis. Log onto the website at www.smartmetertexas.com. For more information about Oncor’s advanced meters, visit www.smarttexas.com.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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Do advanced meters measure real power or reactive power?
For the majority of our residential and small commercial customers, advanced meters only display kW (real power). For larger customers with three-phase installations, the meters have the ability to display real and reactive power. As a residential customer, you are most likely billed only on kilowatt-hours (kWh) as residential rate plans typically charge you for kWh, not kW. Larger commercial and industrial customers are frequently billed on power factor, taking into account real and reactive power. You should look at your specific rate plan for details on your billing. This should have been provided to you from your Retail Electric Provider when you signed up with them or available on their website.
–Jon P., Advanced Meter Expert
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How do I read my electromechanical meter? It has five spinning dials at the top.
Each of the dials on your electric meter represents one digit of the current reading. The dial pointers spin in the direction of increasing value. Note that the pointers of adjacent dials spin in opposite directions.
When reading your meter, the dials should be read from right to left. When the dial hand is between numbers, always use the smaller number in your reading. If the hand is so close to a number such that you cannot tell which side of the number the hand is on, look at the dial to the right. If the dial hand to the right has passed zero, then the correct reading is the number that the hand in question appears to be resting on. If the dial hand to the right has not passed zero, then use the next smaller number.
Keep in mind that when the power company representative reads your meter, they do NOT reset the register to zero. Your monthly kilowatt-hour consumption is determined by subtracting the previous reading from the current reading.
Your current electromechanical meter will eventually be replaced by a new advanced meter. Oncor has already installed 1 million advanced meters, on our way to 3 million by 2012. For information on advacned meters, including how to read a advanced meter or when you’ll be getting one, visit www.smarttexas.com.
-Glenn A., Oncor Meter Expert
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Oncor just installed a advanced meter at my home. When will the meter start reporting outages for me?
The integration of the advanced metering system to the outage management system (OMS) will occur over the next couple of years. When that integration is completed, even though it will be an automated system and your advanced meter will be communicating problems wirelessly to Oncor, it is still best to call the outage reporting number at 1.888.313.4747 to confirm that we are aware of your outage. The Oncor call center feeds additional information into the OMS to ensure the full extent of the outage is known and identified to the outage restoration team. So even though your advanced meter will be reporting problems to us, it will only take a few minutes of your time to be sure your outage has been reported.
–Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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Why do I have to pay for a advanced meter? Won’t Oncor save money by not having meter readers anymore?
Every Oncor customer will need to have an advanced meter, as once the installation in your area is completed, there will be no way for us to read your old meter. Oncor is dedicated to providing this enhanced capability to its customers in the most cost-effective manner. Not only will having a advanced meter give you greater control over your electric consumption and bills, but it will also allow us to deliver even more reliable electricity to customers like you, as power can be restored quicker and without human intervention when outages occur. In order for Oncor to use meter information for increased reliability and efficiency, all customers must have their meters replaced.
The savings from not having meter readers are small compared to Oncor’s investments in smart grid technology. Any savings that are realized will be used to lower Oncor's cost of service. Many of these numbers, such as a decrease in truck rolls, are reflected in an annual review of operations and maintenance costs. Lower costs or savings will adjust Oncor's rates as appropriate. Oncor’s rates are reviewed and approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
The Oncor AMS surcharge of $2.19 each month for the next 11 years is being charged to all customers in the Oncor service area. The cost of the meters accounts for approximately one-half of the AMS surcharge. The other half of the surcharge is primarily for information technology and network telecom services conducted in the Oncor service area. The surcharge cost, which was approved by the PUC, is minimal compared to the savings you can expect by reducing your demand and one of the lowest in the nation for this technology. One way you can offset this fee is to replace a 100-watt light bulb with an Energy Star CFL light bulb, which can save you more than $2.30 a month.
Advanced meters will help you manage your energy usage better than ever before. For example, once deployed, your advanced meter, through additional monitoring equipment inside your home, will allow you to monitor your electricity usage throughout the day instead of just when you receive your monthly bill. You can also monitor your energy usage through your computer on a day-after basis through the state's Smart Meter Texas Portal. With this knowledge, you will be able to manage your energy usage and ultimately, lower your bills if you choose. Studies show that customers who take advantage of this technology save around 10 percent on their electric bills.
To view when your home will be getting a advance meter, visit Oncor’s Smart Texas website and click on “New Deployment Schedule.” Here, you can view a map of the deployment schedule or type in your ESI ID number (located on your electric bill) to find the time frame for when your home or business will be getting a new advance meter.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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Does a meter reader have to have access to my backyard where my meter is installed?
Eventually, new advanced meters will reduce the need for a meter reader to physically read the meters. However, after you initially get your advanced meter, a meter reader will need to come by your home at least one more time until the meter is provisioned. An advanced meter has been provisioned when we have manually confirmed that the new meter has registered usage and correctly communicated information through the smart grid system. This generally occurs 30 – 60 days after the meter has been installed.
However, even if you have a advanced meter that has been provisioned, Oncor may still need access to the meter on occasion or to any of Oncor’s equipment that may be located in or near your backyard.
Oncor’s Tariff for Retail Delivery Service section 5.4.8 from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (see page 56 of the Oncor Tariff) provides us the right to access, service and maintain our equipment. Oncor is authorized to access property as part of our responsibility for providing safe, efficient delivery of electric service. Oncor’s duly authorized representatives have the right to access your property for the purpose of restoring service; to inspect, erect, install, maintain, upgrade, convert, remove or replace wiring; read the meter and to perform other activities necessary to provide service. Oncor will come on your property only when it is necessary.
Oncor employees who need to access your property always have an Oncor ID badge on them. They are happy to show you their badge or give you their manager’s phone number for confirmation that they are there to do required work. If ever fearful for your safety, please call 9-1-1.
–Kevin F., Oncor Legal Expert
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I am interested in installing a meter base surge protector at my residence. Who do I contact for this service?
The meter base or box is considered customer-owned equipment. You will need to contact a certified electrician to discuss installing whole house surge protection on your meter base.
If you choose not to go with the whole house surge protection, there are many types and brands of surge protection equipment available on the market, including surge protectors for individual pieces of equipment or surge protection power strips.
It is always a good idea to make sure that your appliances, especially expensive ones, have surge protection. Neither Oncor, nor any other utility company, can provide constant, uninterrupted electric service. Routine operational functions of the electrical grid and inclement weather situations such as lightning can result in momentary fluctuations of voltage that can affect non-protected electrical equipment.
-Kris M., Oncor Meter Expert
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What HAN devices do you offer for sale to Oncor customers?
Since Oncor has the most Zigbee-enabled advanced meters anywhere, we’re anxious to see Home Area Network (HAN) devices locally available. At Oncor, we want to make your customer experience as great as possible, so we have been working with many in-home monitor (IHM) vendors to ensure these devices work as expected. As of March 2011, Oncor has validated 17 devices from 13 vendors to work well with Oncor’s smart grid; however, none of these devices are commercially available yet. We expect to see devices available in 2011. Meanwhile, you can get information from your new advanced meter by creating an account at the Smart Meter Texas Portal.
–Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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What does the ESI number stand for when registering for the Smart Meter Texas portal?
The ESI ID stands for the Electric Service Identifier. Every home or business with a meter in the ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) area has a unique ESI ID number. You can find your ESI ID number on your electric bill.
Additionally, to register your advanced meter at the Smart Meter Texas Portal, you will need the meter number for your advanced meter. This is located on the meter itself.
Once you’ve registered on the Smart Meter Texas Portal website, you can begin monitoring your electric consumption to make a difference in your bills and carbon footprint.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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How will an advanced meter reduce my electricity consumption?
While your advance meter won’t reduce your consumption for you, it will give you the power to make in impact on your consumption. Advanced meters will provide usage information that you can use to lower your bills and improve your carbon footprint. Once deployed, you can monitor your energy usage on a day-after basis through the state's Smart Meter Texas portal at Smart Meter Texas Portal, instead of just when you receive your monthly bill. With this knowledge, you can manage your energy usage and ultimately, lower your bill if you choose.
Additional monitoring equipment like an in-home monitor can also be purchased to work with your new advanced meter and will also help you monitor your electricity usage throughout the day. An in-home monitor is a wireless device that easily installs anywhere in the home. It electronically talks to the advanced meter to display how much electricity is being consumed in the home and can convert that usage into a dollar amount to show how much you are spending with the click of a button. For those that are environmentally conscious, it can also show your carbon footprint based on your current electricity usage.
At Oncor, we want to make your customer experience as great as possible, so we have been working with many in-home monitor vendors to ensure these devices work as expected. We expect to see devices available in the first half of 2011. Meanwhile, you can get information from your new advanced meter by creating an account at the Smart Meter Texas Portal.
For more information about Oncor's advanced meters, visit Oncor's Smart Texas website.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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How long does it take to install an advanced meter?
Typically, it only takes a few minutes to install an advanced meter. On average, each of Oncor's advanced meter installers installs 30-60 advanced meters per day, including travel time between locations.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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An Oncor employee at a local fair told me about an in-home monitor pilot for my smart meter. He said 500 were being given away. How do I sign up?
Oncor gave away 500 In-Home Monitors in 2010. This program is now complete, and the results are being evaluated. The lessons learned will be used to make improvements in our existing processes to support future HAN device programs that we expect to be offered by Retail Electric Providers.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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How do I read my meter to verify usage by computer?
If you have a advanced meter (this is a meter that has a digital face and labeled as Landis & Gyr Focus AX series), you can track your usage at the Smart Meter Texas Portal, a website run by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. On this site, you enter in your ESI ID number (located on your electric bill) and your meter number, which you can find on the meter itself, to register your advanced meter and begin tracking your electricity consumption on a day-after basis down to 15-minute increments. This website has a list of FAQs and demo videos to help.
In order to use the Portal, you must have a provisioned advanced meter. An advanced meter has been provisioned when we have manually confirmed that the new meter has registered usage and correctly communicated information through the smart grid system. This generally occurs 30 to 60 days after the advanced meter has been installed.
As for electromechanical meters (these are the older meters that have five spinning dials on the face), you cannot track your electric usage online. Visit Oncor’s Smart Texas website and click here to enter your ESI ID to find out when your home is slated to get an advanced meter.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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I have a meter panel that is coming dislodged from the brick exterior wall of my residence. It looks like it is held in place with plastic anchors or screws. Do you handle the repair of this issue at your cost, or how is this handled?
On your home electrical equipment, some parts are owned and maintained by Oncor, and some parts are considered by the state to be owned by the homeowner and therefore his or her responsibility to maintain. Oncor owns the pole and transformer serving the property, the wires that connect to the weather head (for overhead service), and the meter itself. The customer owns and is responsible for the meter base and wiring inside the meter base. It sounds like the equipment you’ve mentioned as being damaged is the meter base, and therefore your responsibility to maintain. The best thing to do is to contact a qualified electrician to make any necessary repairs.
-Kris M., Oncor Meter Expert
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How do I read my smart meter remotely?
If you’ve had your advanced meter for at least 30 days, you can register on the Smart Meter Texas portal to view your usage in 15-minute increments on a day-after basis. Log on to the Smart Meter Texas Portal and register your advanced meter using the ESI ID number from your electric bill and the meter number. The website has helpful FAQs and demo videos, if you need help.
If you’d like to be able to read your meter Oncor’s Smart Texas website has a PDF PDF detailing how to read your advanced meter. Basically, the display on a smart meter automatically cycles through four views — the segment check, the service switch status, the kilowatt-hour (kWh) reading and the kilowatt (kW) demand reading.
For more information about Oncor’s advanced meters, visit Oncor's Smart Texas website.
-Jon P., Oncor Advanced Meter Expert
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Can you provide the schedule for when meters are read?
Oncor does not operate on a 30 or 31 day calendar month schedule so the actual date that your meter is read doesn’t always fall on the same day of the month. However, you can click here to find the meter reading schedules for 2011 on our website. Your Retail Electric Provider (REP) should be able to tell you what cycle day your account is on, allowing you to use the chart to determine the corresponding date your meter will be read in a particular month.
- Kris M., Oncor Meter Expert
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Why is there a metal clamp on my meter?
The clamp you see is used to secure the meter to the meter base to prevent it from falling off the wall. The clamp also helps protect your service by preventing an unauthorized individual from disconnecting your electricity.
- Kris M., Oncor Meter Expert
