Why does having the right technology make a difference? From the vehicles we drive to the electronics we may use; these things share a basic similarity: they are designed to work for us. It is clear to see in the moment what a television can provide or how phones can be beneficial in a time of need, but there is additional, less obvious technology that aims to support your daily life, including the electric meter on your home.

Imagine being empowered with how and where you use energy at home. But why is that important? Having an account platform to outline specific energy usage can offer the ability to save energy and money on your monthly bill – and it is easily accessible.

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) understands one size does not necessarily fit all, especially when it comes to customers’ personal energy needs. Since 2020, I&M began programmatically installing smart meters to improve our customers’ energy experience. This technology replaces older meters that did not offer benefits like that of the new meters, including more control for customers, better service and quicker response to outages. 

“Homeowners experience firsthand what their routine technology can offer them, but often, they don’t consider how their smart electric meter, when used appropriately, can benefit them now and into the future,” said Subin Mathew, I&M director of reliability and grid modernization. “This specific technology was installed to benefit our customers, and also to support the evolving demand of our growing communities through the transition to a modern, more resilient grid.”

When the seasons change, our energy use changes too. From frequent air conditioning use to more time indoors on electronics in winter, our energy usage may change each month. It can also vary from home to home, which is why smart meters support the unique needs of each customer and not just general needs of an average homeowner. Through tracking daily energy use, as in-depth as 15-minute increments, customers can see when and where high usage occurred and take possible corrective actions. Smart meter technology will also proactively alert homeowners when their bill and energy use will be higher than normal, helping to manage budgets and create goals for future savings.

For customers completing an updated home energy profile, custom energy efficiency tips are shared specific to the home the meter is set. By having this insight, customers can adjust in real time to avoid a higher bill reflecting higher usage. This practice, over time, can help to harvest good energy habits that keep bills lower each month while still offering comfort in the place you most expect it – at home. 

Today’s smart meter technology is key to supporting evolving customer energy demand in the future. While the day-to-day benefits can be visible through an I&M online account, it may be challenging to see how this technology is working for the future. Long-term benefits will help to modernize the grid, or the flow of power to homes and businesses, and improve the system’s overall resiliency and functionality. As we see weather or other impacts to customers in the future, the capacity of the grid to withstand or recover quickly from these subsequent outages can be attributed to the addition of smarter technology.

A modernized grid built for customers can further support a smarter energy future, especially as demand evolves and communities grow. We may not be able to dodge incoming weather that can cause outages, but we can better recover from conditions, ensuring that comfort at home or success at work is never sacrificed.

Learn more about how to benefit from the information gathered with your smart meter through similar communications on our website or on the I&M smart meter webpage.

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