Smart Meters

Undaunted by its experience with overheating smart meters, Peco Energy Co. has proposed accelerating the installation of the devices to all 1.6 million customers by the end of 2014, five years ahead of current plans. The Philadelphia utility has asked the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to allow it to spend $282 million to complete the installation of the new generation of meters by the end of next year. Peco says that the accelerated installation program will save $58 million, largely by eliminating the need to maintain two different meter systems until 2019, when the utility had originally agreed to swap out the older devices.

The Institute for Electric Efficiency, a utility industry trade group, said Thursday that 36 million smart meters are now installed, up from 27 million in September, and that 65 million households will have the devices by 2015, about half the American households. In a report , the institute estimates that 22 electric utilities in 16 states will have smart meters fully deployed by the end of this year, including PPL Electric Utilities, Allentown, which rolled them out in 2004.

Peco Energy Co. on Wednesday suspended its ambitious smart-meter installation program after 15 of the electrical devices overheated, including one that set fire to a home in Bucks County. The utility, which has installed 186,000 devices since March, said it has temporarily halted the project to investigate the cause of the malfunctions. "We want to make sure we understand exactly what is happening, since safety is our top concern," said Cathy Engel Menendez, the utility's spokeswoman.

Peco announced Tuesday that it would resume its ambitious smart-meter installation program after pulling the plug on a manufacturer whose devices had been linked to a series of fires. The utility suspended the $650 million program in August after several incidents in which the electronic devices overheated and caught fire. Two of the incidents resulted in serious house fires, though none resulted in injuries. Peco hired Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and two independent consultants to examine the meters.

Peco Energy Co. announced Tuesday it will resume its ambitious smart-meter installation program after pulling the plug on a manufacturer whose devices had been linked to a series of fires. The Philadelphia utility suspended the $650 million program in August after several incidents in which the electronic devices overheated and caught fire. Two of the incidents resulted in serious house fires, though none resulted in injuries. Peco hired Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and two independent consultants to examine the meters.

State regulators on Friday stepped up their inquiry into the safety of Peco Energy Co.'s smart-meter installation program, which the utility suspended last month after some devices caught fire. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission scheduled an informational meeting for Thursday at its Harrisburg offices and has summoned representatives from Peco and its three meter vendors. Peco, in a formal written response Friday to questions from the PUC, updated the number of meters that have overheated from 15 to 26. Some resulted in fires that damaged the area where the meter is mounted to the wall, and three caused fires that spread beyond the meter, said Cathy Engel Menendez, Peco's spokeswoman.

A proposal that would allow Pennsylvania utility customers to opt out of having "smart meters" installed in their houses generated little support Tuesday at a hearing in Harrisburg. Members of the House Consumer Affairs Committee expressed bipartisan skepticism about the need for legislation that would modify a 2008 law that gives utilities 15 years to install smart meters, which allow them to monitor usage in real time at a household level and to charge hourly prices to customers who choose time-of-use rates.

Undaunted by its experience with overheating smart meters, Peco Energy Co. has proposed accelerating the installation of the devices to all 1.6 million customers by the end of 2014, five years ahead of current plans. The Philadelphia utility has asked the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to allow it to spend $282 million to complete the installation of the new generation of meters by the end of next year. Peco says that the accelerated installation program will save $58 million, largely by eliminating the need to maintain two different meter systems until 2019, when the utility had originally agreed to swap out the older devices.

Peco announced Tuesday that it would resume its ambitious smart-meter installation program after pulling the plug on a manufacturer whose devices had been linked to a series of fires. The utility suspended the $650 million program in August after several incidents in which the electronic devices overheated and caught fire. Two of the incidents resulted in serious house fires, though none resulted in injuries. Peco hired Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and two independent consultants to examine the meters.

Peco Energy Co. announced Tuesday it will resume its ambitious smart-meter installation program after pulling the plug on a manufacturer whose devices had been linked to a series of fires. The Philadelphia utility suspended the $650 million program in August after several incidents in which the electronic devices overheated and caught fire. Two of the incidents resulted in serious house fires, though none resulted in injuries. Peco hired Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and two independent consultants to examine the meters.

State regulators on Friday stepped up their inquiry into the safety of Peco Energy Co.'s smart-meter installation program, which the utility suspended last month after some devices caught fire. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission scheduled an informational meeting for Thursday at its Harrisburg offices and has summoned representatives from Peco and its three meter vendors. Peco, in a formal written response Friday to questions from the PUC, updated the number of meters that have overheated from 15 to 26. Some resulted in fires that damaged the area where the meter is mounted to the wall, and three caused fires that spread beyond the meter, said Cathy Engel Menendez, Peco's spokeswoman.

Regulators in two states are investigating allegations of dangerously overheating electric meters after Peco Energy Co. this month suspended installation of the devices when two of its customers' houses caught fire. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission staff has asked Peco for results of its investigation into the failure rates of the advanced "smart meters" that the utility began installing in March. Peco says 15 of the 186,000 digital devices it installed have overheated, including several that exploded into flames.

Regulators in two states are investigating allegations of dangerously overheating electric meters after Peco Energy Co. this month suspended installation of the devices when two of its customers' houses caught fire. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission staff has asked Peco for results of its investigation into the failure rates of the advanced "smart meters" the utility began installing in March. Peco says 15 of the 186,000 digital devices it installed have overheated, including several that exploded into flames.

Peco Energy Co. on Wednesday suspended its ambitious smart-meter installation program after 15 of the electrical devices overheated, including one that set fire to a home in Bucks County. The utility, which has installed 186,000 devices since March, said it has temporarily halted the project to investigate the cause of the malfunctions. "We want to make sure we understand exactly what is happening, since safety is our top concern," said Cathy Engel Menendez, the utility's spokeswoman.