SmartGrid Charlottesville

SmartGrid Information

Charlottesville is the first city in Virginia and one of the first in the nation where homes and businesses will be equipped with "smart meters" that will make the delivery of electricity more efficient and less costly and will lay the groundwork for a "smart grid."

On June 16, 2009, Dominion Virginia Power executives joined Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and local officials to announce the company is launching an approximately $20 million program – SmartGrid Charlottesville – to install about 46,500 "smart meters" in the city of Charlottesville and Albermarle County by the end of the year. As of June 1, 2009, 22,000 meters had been installed.

Dominion will utilize its electrical distribution, communications and information technology infrastructure to promote energy conservation and environmental responsibility, improve customer service and improve utility operations in this smart grid effort.

Pending regulatory approval where required, the highlights ultimately are expected to include:

Automatic energy usage reduction of about 4 percent or more annually for typical residential customers through more-efficient management of energy delivery by Dominion. That will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 12,000 tons annually, equal to removing 2,100 cars from the road.
A demonstration project providing customers Web access, through www.Dom.com, for energy usage and billing information.
The option of time-based rates that give customers the opportunities to shift electricity use to off-peak times for additional savings.
A demonstration project providing periodic reports that show customers how their energy usage compares with other customers.
Tests of battery storage systems that could promote renewable electricity generation such as solar.
Automatic reporting of outages, allowing for quicker restoration of service.
Increased customer convenience through remote turn on and turn off of service, and remote meter readings.
A demonstration program for light-emitting diode (LED) street lights.
Assistance for Charlottesville to evaluate an electric transportation program.

Get complete details in our news release.

Benefits of Smart Meters

Immediate Benefits

Daily Meter Reading - Dominion will be able to remotely collect meter readings daily, or more frequently, ensuring more accurate billing.
More Privacy - Since smart meters send information electronically, meter readers no longer need to enter your property.
Improved Diagnostics - Remote monitoring capabilities enable two-way communication between Dominion and your meter, providing better information about your electricity use and meter status.
Healthier Environment - Electronic meter readings mean fewer trucks to homes and businesses, reducing emissions and protecting the environment.

Future Benefits

Smart Grid - As smart grid technologies emerge, smart meters will play a critical role in the integration of both consumer devices and alternative generating sources, as well as future operational capabilities of the distribution network.
Dynamic Rates - You will be eligible to enroll in dynamic rates, which can help you save money by providing information on your energy usage. This will enable you to make wise energy conservation decisions.
Remote Meter Turn On & Off - Smart meters enable Dominion to turn your meter on and off without having to send an employee to your home or business.
Power Outage Detection - Smart meters notify us when your power goes off and when it has been restored.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a smart meter?

The smart meter is a digitized electric meter that gives the utility and the meter two-way communications with each other. Smart meters are the foundational to creating a smart grid. Smart meters are also necessary to enable voltage conservation, power outage detection, and other improved functionality. This will help customers conserve energy. Over time, functions will increase, offering customers greater control over their use of electricity.

View a brochure on smart meters.

What do smart meters look like?

Smart meters look like your existing meter, but do not have dials. Smart meters have an LCD digital display showing how much energy you have used, and will be placed into the existing meter base at your location.

View an image of the smart meter.

How do I read a smart meter?

Provided you are on a standard residential rate, the Smart Meter will have a digital LCD screen that cycles through 3 screens, the 'kWh' screen, the local area communications path screen, and the maintenance screen.

The most valuable screen to you is the 'kWh' screen. This is the total cumulative consumption reading of the smart meter at this location. Use this reading in conjunction with the last bill to calculate your current usage. Ex: last bill meter reading was 1000 kWh and the current reading is 1200 kWh then the difference is 200 kWh in usage since your last meter reading (See Image 1 ).

The second screen that shows is the Local Area Communications path of the smart meter to the collector meter which that this device is communicating (see Image 2 ).

The Final screen is the maintenance screen of the smart meter. This screen is for Dominion field personnel should there be a need to do a site visit to the customer's home (see Image 3 ).

Below the row of numbers, there are 2 arrows and a block. One arrow pointing to the left and one pointing to the right. These arrows represent whether the energy is being delivered or received. The line in between the arrows is the pulse indicator, which indicates the rate of energy consumption (see Image 3 ).

What is a smart grid?

The U.S. Department of Energy states that a smarter grid applies technologies, tools and techniques available now to increase knowledge of making the grid work more efficiently. Smart Grid means different things to different companies. Dominion is currently developing our Smart Grid vision. (> Learn more.)

How is a smart meter different from my existing meter?

Existing meters are read once a month, either manually by a meter reader, or by using a van that drives by to retrieve meter data remotely. Smart meters are read daily, or more frequently, using a two-way communications network.

Will someone need to come into my house to install the smart meter? Do I need to be home?

Dominion will not need entry into your home or business, unless your meter is located inside. The installation will take place at your meter location. If your meter is outside and accessible, you do not need to be present during the upgrade. Dominion will leave a notice on your door once the work is complete.

Can I make an appointment for the installation?

We are not scheduling appointments for smart meter installations. On the day of installation, the installer will knock on your door before beginning work. If your meter is inside or otherwise inaccessible, Dominion will contact you directly to make arrangements for the installation.

How long will an installation take?

Installation will take approximately 10 minutes.

How does someone enroll, and how much does it cost?

It's automatic for customers in Charlottesville and most of Albermarle County – those who have smart meters installed this year. You cannot opt in or out of having a smart meter installed.

There is no separate charge for being included in the SmartGrid Charlottesville initiative.

When will I start to see the 4 percent energy savings on my bill?

The energy savings will happen once all the meters are installed and other equipment and software are put in place. That should be in 2010. Individual customer usage and bills will depend on a number of factors, including weather, thermostat settings, the addition or subtraction of appliances, rates and other personal lifestyle changes.

When will all of these programs be available?

They will be available next year, once all of the smart meters are installed and other actions are taken. Information will be communicated at the appropriate time.

Print Save trees. Print only when necessary.