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Automated Meter Reading

Automated Meter Reading Updates

All single phase meters have been changed to the Automated Meters. Therefore the Lyon Rural Electric Cooperative is able to read your meters for you. Even though we have changed our meters to automated meters there will be times when a Lyon Rural Electric Cooperative employee will need to go to your homes, farms and businesses to read meters.

Several members have asked if they will need to call the office to report outages.The answer is yes, you do need to call the office to report outages. The automated meter reading system will provide your Cooperative with the ability to understand the size and ensure that all members electrical services is restored once the entire system is installed.Since the meter responds to computer requests and does not send any data not requested, the meter will note the outage but will not inform the office until that data is requested.

New loads and increasing loads added to existing metering installations or new locations still need to be reported to the office. These loads may cause a transformer to overload and cause the transformer to trip out or burn up. The cost of repairs may be assessed to the member.The automated meter reading system does have the ability to report the load on the transformer, however, this information will be after the load has been placed on the transformer and the damage may have occurred. In addition, your Cooperative needs your assistance with new and growing loads. Lead times, the time from when we order material to the time it is received, has been increasing. While we maintain a significant amount of inventory, we do experience times when we are short on certain items of material. It is extremely important that you include your Cooperative in planning load expansions or new loads. Currently we are in the process of planning for 2008. We anticipate ordering material in November for next year.

Another change the members will see is that all meters will be changed as a part of this program. Electronic meters will replace the dial meters. These meters have increased accuracy and are expected to maintain this accuracy. While these meters meet the standards set by the Iowa Utility Board, the dial meters had a tendency to slow down over time.The new meters also have the ability to read light loads more accurately. The result should be more accurate meter readings and reduce the line loss of the Cooperative.