It’s a New Era in Electricity Metering!

From the first days when Central Electric Cooperative began delivering electricity to members in 1940, we’ve used the same general type of meter technology – one that recorded usage only at the service point. This required us travel to every meter, every month, to read and record how much electricity was used.

In January 2011 a new day dawned in metering for Central Electric. That’s when CEC began converting every member’s meter to a new electronic “smart meter.” This will enable us to take meter readings electronically without sending anyone to the field. This saves costs associated with labor and vehicle usage, as well as reducing the cooperative’s emission levels. It also will make our meter reading schedules and billing processes more consistent.

We have chosen the well-proven Power Line Carrier technology to receive your usage data. This means the data is transmitted over the power lines already connected to your home or business. There is no signal transmitted from the meter via the airwaves. Not only does our chosen technology eliminate any health concerns some might have over radio wave transmissions, it is the most practical and economical solution for our large service area with its rugged terrain and low customer density.

By late 2011, members will be able to access their usage data via a secure web site, giving you more insight to your usage and equipping you to make the best decisions about your electricity usage.

These meters are the cornerstone of our Advanced Metering Infrastructure project, or AMI. To learn more, please review our Frequently Asked Questions.

News Releases

1/10/2011

Central Electric Begins Meter Change-out Program
Central Electric Cooperative’s (CEC) members began receiving new electric meters today, marking the next major step in the Coop’s three-year program to upgrade its metering system and billing processes.

All members are scheduled to receive meters capable of transmitting usage data by the middle of 2013.

5/27/2010

CEC Announces Smart Grid Grant
Central Electric Cooperative announced today that it will receive $4.65 million in matching funds from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to deploy smart grid technologies.

The DOE's Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG) will fund half of a five-year, $9.3 million project by Central Electric to enhance the reliability and efficiency of CEC's electric system.