Can you save money if you have a smart meter in your home? A North Vancouver mom shares her family's experience.
Krista Tulloch still has a smart hydro meter attached to the side of her house. She was part of a test study by BC Hydro and found that just being aware of how she was using power helped her cut back -- even after the meter was disconnected.
"Our consumption has stayed relatively stable, just slightly below the average for houses of our size," she said.
The hydro experiment showed about two-thirds of the families saved money. There was an overall 5.5-per-cent reduction in energy use, and an 11-per-cent reduction in peak periods.
When the full program rolls out, the smart meters will help BC Hydro too. During a power outage, Hydro will know instantly when your power goes out and which neighbourhoods are affected.
No need to report an outage anymore.
You'll also be able to get a message on your smartphone telling you when the power should be back on.
"This is an indication of the advancement of smart meters, Dave Deyagher of BC Hydro said.
And when you move to a new home, Hydro will be able to turn your power on or off with the click of a switch. That's it
"If you are moving into your home instead of sending a meter technician into your home we will send a signal and it will remotely connect the service for us," Deyagher said.
You'll be able to see in real time how much power you are using –even mid-month -- compared to your regular bill. And you can even tell how much you use compared to an average home in your neighbourhood.
Tulloch found being educated about energy use was critical to her using less.
"A meter by itself isn't going to change people's behaviour -- there has to be a combination of education and access to technology that makes it easier for us to understand," she said
BC Hydro predicts using the information smart meters make possible could save customers from $10 to as much as $40 a month.
And Tulloch says if BC Hydro gives her the option of paying a lot less for using power in off-peak times like the evening, she'd do it.
"Our core hydro uses are our dishwasher and our laundry and if I could get those things on timers that would make A difference on our overall energy cost for our family, so I'd go to the off-peak option."
The bottom line? Smart meters can't save you money unless you are able to change your habits, particularly when you use electricity and how much.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
