PG&E Smart Meters Information

[justsam]

I'm sure this is old news but I just realized the meters actually provide a bit of useful information in addition to cumulative KWH.

I noticed mine flashing and realized it actually scrolls through data. In my case it displayed current input voltage (247.*** VAC) and also instantaneous KW being used. It also displays cumulative KWH of course.

Curious if they can be programmed to display other information?

 

[mm08822]

check out some meter spec sheets on http://www.gedigitalenergy.com/smartmetering/catalog/i210plusc.htm . You'll be surprised at how smart today's smart meters are!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The meters can display all sorts of data, none of which u can program. The main info any customer would need is the values that your meter is already displaying. What other data are u looking for?

 

[rlitman]

There are a number of manufacturers of smart meters out there. They all use a standard optical interface for programming (the USB optical probe is around $500), but your utility should have locked out your meter with a password. Even if not, don't consider messing with it.

Different meters have different capabilities. On the smart meters I program, we use them to collect data in "registers" for time-of-use billing (it is an office setting and to encourage people to shut their computers and lights overnight, we charge more for overnight usage; yeah, I know that's weird).
A utility's smart meter would often also display peak demand (perhaps yours does not, because you are not a commercial customer).

Generally whatever statistics a meter is capable of collecting (better meters have more memory, and better processors to collect in more registers), can be routed to the display, or be sent over the network. You would want the display to show what you are billing, as well as useful diagnostic information.

 

[Teken]

There are a number of manufacturers of smart meters out there. They all use a standard optical interface for programming (the USB optical probe is around $500), but your utility should have locked out your meter with a password. Even if not, don't consider messing with it.

Different meters have different capabilities. On the smart meters I program, we use them to collect data in "registers" for time-of-use billing (it is an office setting and to encourage people to shut their computers and lights overnight, we charge more for overnight usage; yeah, I know that's weird).
A utility's smart meter would often also display peak demand (perhaps yours does not, because you are not a commercial customer).

Generally whatever statistics a meter is capable of collecting (better meters have more memory, and better processors to collect in more registers), can be routed to the display, or be sent over the network. You would want the display to show what you are billing, as well as useful diagnostic information.

rlitman,

The one's you're familiar with do they use Zigbee to transmit their signal? Otherwise what other type of communication standards does it use. In our 1930 town only a few residential homes have electronic meters.

They are not smart meters simply digital.

But, the one's I have seen in other parts of Canada & USA could either be controlled for load shedding (assuming you participate) in these programs. Or the information for the billing could be received from the street.

Saves tons of time for the meter reader from walking on to the property, or waiting to get access due to a fence restriction etc.

Teken . . .

 

[rlitman]

Not that sophisticated. I talk to my meters over an Abacus A9U optical probe, or RS-485. Nothing wireless.

 

[justsam]

Thanks to all who responded! It made me do a little more homework and get myself up to date on the technology.

In terms of what other data would be helpful to me, the consumer, I would like to see voltage from each leg to neutral, and perhaps Power Factor.

Seems like the voltage readings to neutral could be helpful to PG&E if you were having a flakey neutral issue too.

I know PF does not come into play for residential but more a curiosity.

I have no intention of tampering with the meter to gain more data.

 

[rlitman]

Does your meter even have a connection to the neutral? A 1S or 2S meter pan would not.

I use a 9S meter pan, which gives me separate current and voltage pickups for three phases and neutral.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Thanks to all who responded! It made me do a little more homework and get myself up to date on the technology.

In terms of what other data would be helpful to me, the consumer, I would like to see voltage from each leg to neutral, and perhaps Power Factor.

Seems like the voltage readings to neutral could be helpful to PG&E if you were having a flakey neutral issue too.

I know PF does not come into play for residential but more a curiosity.

I have no intention of tampering with the meter to gain more data.

Since meter pans/sockets are owned by and are the responsibility of the homeowner, PGE wouldnt be able to put a meter in that was capable of reading neutral voltages, unless the required meter pan was already installed.

Regardless though, a neutral issue is easily checked with a multimeter...

 

[djb2]

Seems like the voltage readings to neutral could be helpful to PG&E if you were having a flakey neutral issue too.

It would be nice if they could report power factor and leg voltage differences.

But there shouldn't be a neutral voltage offset. The neutral should be bonded to ground at the service entrance / main panel, and the voltage should be essentially zero.

A sub-panel (AKA remote load center, and other names) should have the neutral isolated from the ground. The strap that's sometimes provided with the box should be bent flat or cut off. That's where you can have a neutral offset, but there isn't anything at that point that can measure it.

It would be nice to have a circuit breaker size monitor that measures the peaks and lows, but the market for such a device is probably tiny.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It would be nice if they could report power factor and leg voltage differences.

But there shouldn't be a neutral voltage offset. The neutral should be bonded to ground at the service entrance / main panel, and the voltage should be essentially zero.

A sub-panel (AKA remote load center, and other names) should have the neutral isolated from the ground. The strap that's sometimes provided with the box should be bent flat or cut off. That's where you can have a neutral offset, but there isn't anything at that point that can measure it.

It would be nice to have a circuit breaker size monitor that measures the peaks and lows, but the market for such a device is probably tiny.

There WILL be a difference in potential between neutral and each hot leg IF the neutral has a bad connection!