By: JIM FUQUAY |
Oncor Electric Delivery, which operates the power grid that serves most of North Texas, says it is teaming up with IBM on a new data management project designed to give consumers a better look at their electricity usage.
The online service works with advanced “smart” meters and other networked devices installed at homes and businesses to provide a nearly real-time monitor of consumption, the companies were set to announce today. The system also gives Oncor automatic alerts on power issues and outages.
Oncor, whose majority owner is Dallas-based Energy Future Holdings, has more than 3 million Texas customers. It has been installing smart meters in its service area, with 3.2 million expected to be installed by year’s end.
The companies said the system receives information every 15 minutes from smart meters and forwards it to Oncor offices and customers’ online portals.
Consumers with advanced meters can already see their past energy usage in 15-minute increments by creating an account at www.smartmetertexas.com, but that service has a two-day lag.
