In the spring of 2013, LADWP collaborated with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and a consortium of the region’s top research institutions, including USC, UCLA, and JPL, for the Smart Grid LA program. The Smart Grid LA program installed 52,000 smart meters (also known as advanced meters) and related technologies in an effort to increase energy efficiency.
Building on the knowledge from the Smart Grid LA program, we will begin deploying advanced metering infrastructure in 2021.
Advanced metering infrastructure is an integrated system of:
- Advanced meters
- Communication network
- Data management systems
Advanced Meters
Advanced meters transmit a customer’s electricity usage in real-time to us through a radio signal.
Communication Network and Data Management Systems
For the past three years, we’ve been automating our distribution system to prepare for this advanced metering deployment. To achieve this automation, we’re deploying:
- A radio frequency (RF) mesh communication network
- Back-bone of advanced metering infrastructure
- Provides network support for advanced meters and devices
- Ensures complete network coverage of our service territory
- Distribution automation devices, such as line sensors and automatic reclosers
- Provides visibility into the electric grid
- Monitors and detects abnormal distribution system behavior
- Data management system
- Manages and stores advanced metering infrastructure data
- Provides advanced metering infrastructure data to key personnel to enable them to make informed decisions
Advanced Meters
We will begin installing advanced meters in Fall 2021. These advanced meters will replace existing electromechanical, radiofrequency, and cellular meters.
Advanced meters are digital meters that transmit electricity usage in real-time through a radio signal. Advanced meters enable LADWP to quickly identify and respond to service problems.
Many utilities such as Southern California Edison and Glendale Water and Power utilize advanced meters. Nearly half of all U.S. electricity customers have advanced meters.
For more information on advanced meters, check out the FAQs
Radio Signals from Advanced Meters
Advanced meters use radio frequency (RF) technologies to communicate with us via a low-power radio signal. Numerous studies have demonstrated that advanced meters operating on RF technologies pose no health risk.
- Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) concluded in its Itron Smart Meter report that RF signals generated by advanced meters result in minimal RF exposure, and was comparable to RF signals generated from television and radios.
- A report by the California Council on Science and Technology on the health impacts of RF exposure from advanced meters found that advanced meters emit lower RF levels than cell phones and microwave ovens.
Benefits of Advanced Metering
A report by the Department of Energy has shown that advanced metering infrastructure provides significant electric grid and customer benefits.
Advanced metering infrastructure will provide increased visibility into our electric grid and help us make informed decisions on system upgrades and planning, equipment replacement, energy demand behavior, outage management, severe weather events, and more.
Ultimately, advanced metering infrastructure will modernize the electric grid, improve the reliability and resiliency of our distribution system, and support emerging green initiatives and technology.
Advanced metering infrastructure will modernize the electric grid and improve reliability
- Currently our electric grid relies on customer calls to detect outages. We have limited visibility into the system and its behaviors
- Grid-monitoring technologies will provide real-time insight into the status and overall health of the distribution system
- Increased visibility and control of the electric grid will transform our grid to be more reliable
- Grid-monitoring technologies will provide more information to operators so they can make proactive decisions, rather than reactive
Advanced metering infrastructure improves billing accuracy
- Advanced meters allow for remote meter reading, which eliminates the need for physical visits to each customer’s electric meter and increases billing accuracy
- Advanced metering infrastructure provides remote connect/disconnect capabilities
Advanced metering infrastructure is the first step towards a more intelligent grid and a cleaner future
- Advanced metering infrastructure builds the foundation to support green initiatives and technology such as distributed energy resources and demand response
- Advanced metering infrastructure data will help us accurately determine how energy can be most efficiently distributed by knowing when and where the power is needed
- Advanced metering infrastructure will help us work towards a clean energy future
Advanced metering infrastructure reduces outage duration and frequency
Advanced metering infrastructure will improve outage restoration time by providing operators more information to accurately detect, isolate, and restore outages.
- Advanced meters will send outage notifications to operators, which will help operators accurately isolate outage areas
- We will be able to send dispatch crews more precisely to the outage area, resulting in a faster outage restoration time
- Faster outage restoration time means less inconvenience for our customers
Advanced metering infrastructure increases customer privacy
Advanced meters will transmit customer meter and usage information through our secure network, which implements security technologies, such as data encryption, to ensure your information is kept safe and secure.
For more information on advanced metering infrastructure, check out the FAQs.
Contact Us
For general questions about this Advanced Metering program, check out the FAQs or call
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1-800-DIAL DWP (1-800-342-5397)
FAQs
An advanced meter transmits a customer’s electricity usage directly to LADWP through a radio signal. The advanced meter will replace existing electromechanical, radiofrequency, and cellular meters.
Yes. Advanced meters are another term for smart meters, which use a radio signal to enable two-way communication between the meter and the utility.
When LADWP completes the advanced meter deployment and grid modernization, advanced meters will improve outage detection, provide faster outage recovery, provide information to help customize customer products and services, and more accurate accounting of energy usage.
Yes. LADWP employees wearing uniforms and carrying official identification badges will require direct access to the meter. However, customers do not need to be at the property.
Existing customers will receive notices before and after the meter installation.
- 1st Notice: An email or customer letter will be sent by USPS mail 4 to 6 weeks before the installations begin.
- 2nd Notice: A customer postcard will be sent 1 to 2 weeks before the installations begin.
- 3rd Notice: A door hanger will be placed on the customer’s front door after an installation attempt.
- 4th Notice: An email or customer postcard will be sent confirming the status of the meter installation.
It should take one hour to install the new meter, but customers should only experience a momentary power outage when the meter is activated. You will need to reset items on your property such as digital clocks, security systems, and computer equipment. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Yes. A meter reader will continue to visit your property to read the electric and water meters manually to collect water and electricity usage.
The new meter is free of charge for customers.
Your account will not change. You will continue to receive your bill as you do now.
Customer electricity usage and meter information is sent over a dedicated two-way LADWP communication network. LADWP uses security technologies, such as data encryption, to protect the privacy of customer data.