26 Jan
Residential customers typically see higher bills due to seasonal cold temperatures. This seems like a statement of the obvious, but we say it because there are persistent rumors that Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters cause higher bills. These rumors gain traction when the onset of hot or cold weather coincides with the installation of new meters. Our AMI meters are accurate; they record changes in usage due to weather and other factors.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in the Denver area fell to 32 degrees or lower 29 days in December, 21 days in November, and only 14 days in October. The average daily highs for those months were 45.5 degrees, 58.7 degrees and 66.3 degrees, respectively. The colder weather has most customers consuming more electricity to heat their homes, compared to the milder temps in earlier months.
IREA has nearly completed our AMI project with the installation of more than 165,000 AMI meters. The new meters increase reliability, better monitor demand and provide us data that will allow us to consider additional cost-savings programs, pre-payment plans and a wider variety of rate structures. They also are highly accurate and do not inflate or inaccurately increase electricity usage. To learn more about AMI and billing accuracy, visit www.IREA.coop/ami-videos and watch our Billing Accuracy video.
Customers with AMI meters can use My Power to view energy usage data in hourly, daily and weekly increments. My Power includes weather data that allows customers to determine if a period of high energy use coincides with high or low temperatures. To access My Power, log into My Account and select Additional Consumption Information for AMI Customers.