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Our mission is to provide high-quality, competitively-priced services that exceed our customers' expectations, and contribute to the Lafayette Consolidated Government to support other community needs. |
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Meter System Upgrade - FAQ
Overview
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What is this project all about?
Although LUS electric and water meters are accurate devices, with age, they become less reliable. In addition, customers have told LUS that they would like greater assurance that their meters are read accurately. LUS applied for, and received, $11.6 million in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds to assist with the replacement of all LUS meters with new digital meters. These new meters will use current technologies that allow LUS to insure timely and accurate meter readings without the use of labor-intensive meter readers. The meter replacement phase of this program will provide LUS customers with greater assurance that the meter readings are accurate. These replacement meters will provide more timely, accurate and detailed information to LUS and its customers. As a result, LUS can increase efficiency and reliability and customers can choose to have access to their energy and water usage data on an on-demand basis to help them better manage their utility bills. Meter replacements and upgrades for all customers will begin in the fourth quarter of 2011 and continue through 2012.
What is the purpose of digital meters?
The new digital meters LUS will install for its electric and water services will help modernize the utilities system. These meters work in combination with our existing fiber optic network to transport near real-time data to LUS securely and safely, while protecting the privacy of customer usage data. LUS, and its customers, will benefit from quicker access of meter readings. This system can help customers be able to better manage their utility bills.
Why is LUS installing digital meters?
With digital meters, LUS is able to provide more accurate, timely and detailed information to customers concerning their electricity and water consumption, enabling them to use electricity and water more wisely and to better manage their bills. These new meters will also enable LUS to more effectively plan, design, and construct future enhancements to its electric, water and sewer systems.
When will this take place?
Meter replacements and upgrades for all customers will begin in the fourth quarter of 2011 and continue through 2012. Electric and water meter replacements will be scheduled separately.
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Benefits
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What are the advantages of digital meters?
Digital meters on the electric system can help customers track and better manage their homes' energy consumption. Power can be remotely connected and disconnected on most residential customers to support timely completion of customer service orders to initiate service to a customer location. Digital water meters allow LUS, and its customers, to more quickly detect costly water leaks – that left unchecked can create unexpectedly large water and sewer bills. From an operational standpoint, remote meter reading reduces the need for LUS field personnel to read the meters, and the occasional inaccuracies that are inherent in a manual process. In addition, exposure to employee safety risks, such as dog attacks, is reduced. Customer security concerns related to meter readers entering customer yards are also reduced. By reducing labor and transportation costs, LUS will be better able to keep its utility rates lower. Traffic and vehicle emissions due to LUS meter reader vehicles are also reduced in our community.
Will digital meters mean fewer outages?
Even though LUS has one of the best service reliability records in the country, unexpected outages occur on a system exposed to the elements of nature. The use of these digital meters will help LUS detect outages sooner, leading to quicker and more efficient restoration of service. When problems do occur, the overall LUS network will be able to minimize their impacts by isolating affected areas and in some cases rerouting power through automation or remote operation. In addition, future enhancements to the system will allow customers to let LUS know ahead of time if they want to be alerted in the event of a power outage to their home. This feature can provide the customer with absolute confidence that LUS is aware that the power is out at his/her home. Future plans include deploying a system that can give interested customers the status of power restoration efforts to their home.
Do the new meters help the environment?
Yes, since meter readers will no longer need to read every meter each month, there will be a reduction in pollution, fuel consumption and traffic. Additionally customers will have better information to make decisions on reducing energy consumption. This can reduce the amount of electricity demand and the environmental impacts associated with power generation. Customers can also make informed decisions on reducing water consumption, which can preserve our natural resources.
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Billing, Accuracy, Security and Safety
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Are digital meters safe?
Yes, digital meters are safe. The communications connections to these meter devices located outside of the home are at very low levels – far less than the levels emitted by in-home devices, such as microwave ovens, cell phones, wireless phones and other wireless devices.
Are digital meters secure?
Yes, digital meters are reliable and secure. Millions of them are already in service today and they include all standards to defend against unauthorized access of the meter operation and information. Various security measures are utilized at each step of the data transmission process: at the meter, during transit from the meter to LUS, and at LUS. The meters are password protected and data is encrypted along the entire communications path. The equipment LUS uses is a private network that is not connected, at all, to the Internet.
How will my data be used and is it private?
Usage data will be captured to produce customer bills. For those customers who want to have more interactive management with their electric and water usage, LUS can provide those customers with information to help them monitor their bills and usage patterns. As it does today, LUS system planners will continue to use electric and water usage data to help it more cost-effectively plan for new system improvements to stay ahead of the growth of the city of Lafayette. This data will assist with future planning, including feasibility to build new generating plants, electrical substations, water wells or towers. One added feature is that LUS will be able to detect a customer's unusually high consumption at the time of occurrence and notify the customer to rule out potential problems – such as water leaks. LUS never shares its customer information with third parties.
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Installation
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When will digital meters be installed?
LUS will install digital meters over a twelve-month period, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011. Meter installations will take place Monday through Saturday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. LUS customers do not have to be home as long as the installer has unobstructed access to the existing meters.
Will the new meter cost me anything?
Electric and water meters are the sole property of LUS and there is no charge to customers for the meter upgrades.
How are customers notified about receiving a digital meter?
Customers will receive a postcard or letter in the mail approximately two weeks prior to the digital meter install. The day of the meter install, a technician will knock on the door to advise the customer of the meter exchange. If no one is home, the technician will leave a door hanger advising the customer of the meter exchange.
How long will the installation take?
Meter installation only takes a few minutes, with a brief interruption in electric and water services.
Do I need to be home to have my meter replaced?
No, customers do not need to be home when the new meter is installed. However, the technician will need unobstructed, safe access to the meter. Customers should secure pets on the scheduled installation date.
Is there anything that I need to do?
Customers may need to reset some digital devices after the electric meter upgrade, such as electric clocks and other digital timers. After the water meter upgrade, customers will be advised to turn on an outdoor water faucet or bath tub and let the water run for just one minute. This will remove any air in the water line, which can cause cloudy water or a sputtering faucet.
How will I know the meter has been changed?
The technician will leave a door hanger letting the customer know the meter has been changed.
What if LUS can't change my meter?
If the technician is unable to replace a meter, we will leave a door hanger with information and additional instructions.
Will all meters in Lafayette be replaced?
Yes, all LUS electric and water meters will be replaced.
Will customer bills change?
The new meters will not affect customer electric, water and sewer rates, but you can be better assured that the meter readings and billing amounts will be more accurate.
Who do I call with questions or concerns?
Customers can contact LUS Customer Service at (337) 291-5806 or AskUs@LUS.org.
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