So Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU) have completed installing all the new meters in our service area. These meters, known as Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI), are the latest in electricity usage reading thingy's.
What does all that mean?
Well essentially it means that you are now completely connected to BTU in a kind of loop.
BTU ---> Tower ---> YOU ---> Tower ---> BTU and so on.
A big circle of communication. We are told that this will give us a more convenient way for us to monitor our electricity usage online and in real time, which is cool! It will also give BTU the heads up about electricity outages, cool, cool! There will also no longer be a need for meter reading folks to strut through our yards once a month to read the meter, another cool, cool!
But what about the downside?
Well the most obvious one is if you don't pay your bill on time all it's going to take is a flick of a remote switch and your in the dark.
Then there's the cost. Yes they did say that there would be no charge for these AMI meters but all these new gizmos must cost something. So who's paying for it and how is it being paid for? There may not be a direct charge on our next bill but over time little additional charges can add up. On the flip side, since there will no longer be a need for someone to come to each home in Bryan to read the meter once a month and since that will save on salaries, vehicles and gas then maybe that will offset the cost of the meters.
I think I'm going to reserve judgement on the benefits of these new fandangled meters and see who it is that ultimately benefits from them..........
Us or BTU!
Only time will tell!
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