Since the inception of electricity deregulation and market-driven pricing throughout the world, utilities have been looking for a means to match consumption with generation. Traditional electrical meters only measure total consumption and as such, provide no information on when the energy was consumed. Smart meters provide an economical way of measuring this information, allowing price setting agencies to introduce different prices for consumption based on the time of day and the season.
PG&E, representative, Thomas Smith, will be on hand to discuss and answer questions about Smartmeter. PG&E’s Smartmeter project in California is one of many systems being deployed worldwide as utilities modernize and gain the ability to monitor power consumption in real time. These systems 
provide utility customers with more information about their energy usage and more rate options to help them reduce their energy use and bills. Thomas will address questions about accuracy, security, and reliability as well as discuss the inner workings of the technology.
Each meter must be able to reliably and securely communicate the information collected to some central location. Considering the varying environments and locations where meters are found, that problem can be daunting, and Thomas will discuss the process involved with Smartmeter deployments.
Speakers Bio:
Thomas Smith has worked for PG&E for over 8 years, working in the Meter Reading
, Engineering, and Energy Efficiency programs. He is an expert on Smartmeter and its benefits to customers. Tom, a native Central Valley resident, lives in Merced with his family.