Updated Metering Equipment for Improved Service to You – Our Members
On behalf of UEC, Allegiant Utility Services technicians replaced former digital meters on the UEC system to new Automated Meters.
The new automated meters help UEC’s ongoing efforts to improve service reliability. One of the primary benefits of the new meters, compared to the older models, is their ability to immediately notify UEC of an outage. A system that instantly reports the scope of an outage — the number of meters out and their precise location — will help make our response more focused and immediate.
In recent years, UEC has upgraded its control and data systems, outage management, and field equipment to help operators at our command center in Hermiston more quickly detect and respond to outages with accurate location prediction, reducing the need to send a crew to manually check miles of power lines. The updated metering equipment builds upon that system.
Project Construction Schedule
Start Date: March 2022
Completion Date: December 2024
A Partnership Within A Thriving Community
Our region is developing, and their reliability needs are growing. As population in and around the area continue to increase, so too does the need for safe, efficient and reliable power. UEC is committed to keeping up with the growth and will strive to continue to offer system improvements that will increase service to our members.
UEC’s Commitment to Our Membership
We are committed to our communities and the members who reside in them. UEC is works hard to minimize impact while we identify necessary system improvements.
Benefits and Value Carefully Considered
When we plan for system improvements, we do so with our communities in mind. Careful consideration is taken to increase the benefits our members, partners and communities experience. UEC is committed to a higher level of reliability and reduced outage restoration times experienced by members across our system.
Frequently Asked Questions
The data from digital meters helps us serve our members better. Our goals in installing new meters are to deliver better service, control rising operating expenses, improve system reliability through improved outage management and preventive maintenance, and provide our members with information they can use to make informed decisions about energy use.
No. Research conducted by the Electric Power Research Institute, the Utilities Telecom Council, and others has indicated no health impacts from digital meters. The radio frequencies emitted by digital meters fall well below the maximum recommended in federal guidelines.
Contrary to some misconceptions, the new meters emit radio frequencies (RF) only when responding to a request for data from the co-op office, once every 15 minutes. Compare this activity to a laptop with a wireless connection, which is constantly sending and retrieving data.
A digital meter equipped to send and receive data has an RF density hundreds of times less than the RF density of cell phones – and the meters are installed on the outside of your house not next to your ear.
Your cooperative is a not‐for‐profit private business that is solely owned and operated by the members who receive electric service from our company. When our Board of Directors approves a policy or procedure for the use of new equipment and technologies, they do so knowing that it will also apply to their own homes. In using this type of metering system, we have not only deemed it to be a wise and safe choice for all co‐op members and their families but our own families as well.
Our contractor will leave a door hanger on your front door to let you know they have changed the meter. We will work to minimize any inconvenience. You do not have to be present during the meter change.