By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

In November, residents will start receiving new advanced meters which will be an energy-saving tool for customers but also gives Entergy Texas a clearer real-time picture of the power grid and how it is operating. Outages can be identified remotely and more accurately, so crews can make repairs and restore electricity faster. These are all part of Entergy Texas, Inc.’s vision for a smarter energy future. The company took another step toward that vision when the Public Utility Commission of Texas voted to approve an advanced metering system.

Customers will receive a letter 90 days prior to the switch and second notification two days before the install.

“Contractors will be well identified,” Kacee Kirschvink, of Entergy, said. “If you are not home, they will leave a door hanger on the door. There will lonely be a momentary outage of two-three minutes during the installation.”

Entergy has already installed 82,000 throughout Lumberton, Silsbee, and Beaumont.

“This will help with the projection of one’s bill,” Jim Malain, customer service manager, said. “The online portal will show you how much electricity you are using now and project how much your bill will be. It can show yesterday’s and today’s, so customers are not surprised.”

Another feature of the new meters is the ability to locate an issue when there is an outage.

“We will know when there is an outage and where,” Kirschvink said. “So, there will no longer be a need to call and report an outage.”

“It will also eradicate where to go to repair the outage,” Malain said. “It will cut down on time spent searching for the issue.”

The efficiency is just one benefit of the meters.

Upgrading to an advanced metering system has numerous benefits:

• Customers can get timely and more detailed information, so they can better manage their energy usage, which can lead to energy reduction and potentially lower bills.
• Entergy Texas will have a clearer real-time picture of the power grid and how it is operating. Outages can be identified remotely and more accurately, so crews can make repairs and restore electricity faster.
• With better information, we can answer customers’ billing and service questions more quickly and effectively, improving customer service.