SECO New Smart Meters
 

Any body else's usage jump with the new meter???

Last month SECO installed the new smart meter.
On their website, last month included both the old meter and new meter.
As a result, there were two "usage" reads.

The average temp from June to July increased from 81 to 83 degrees.
(according to their website)
But when you add both meter's usage, our usage went up 100%.

No Way!!

Any body else??
Thanks in advance.

Mine was installed nine days before the end of my billing cycle. I can see that I used very close to 40kWh/day for those nine days. I was gone for most of the month of July last year but in the month of August 2023 I also used 40kWh/day. As far as I can see in this very short period of time, the new meter is reading exactly the same as the old meter.

For some I think the new meter makes you more aware of use. Can’t really compare hvac $$ because of variable weather temps. Usage graft breaks down $$ for watt usage on items.

For us is “Always On” was $19 for the month (so anything plugged in, not in use)

Yet our pool is only $12 for the month. Granted we are not heating, but our chiller is on.

So just for S&Gs I unplugged every not in use item. Lamps, Alexa’s, toaster, blenders, printer, cell phone docks. So will post after next month end bill.

Our new meter bill increased by $2.37 from last month old meter.

To the OP, sounds like they may be a billing error or double charge in your case?

I have a Sense device that monitors power usage real time. No difference with the new meter for total power usage.

I suspect the SECO usage breakdown are estimates, not actual detection and measurement of those devices as happens with Sense.

I think Village Tinker (and others?) has a Srnse also so maybe he will weigh in for what he's observing.

Sense - Control your home energy use

Our thoughts was never had seco daily usage available for us. So new toy to play with, app does ask for info and claims algorithms chart usage, such as appliances.

Sense by far has better capabilities, but not something I need to keep that much track of, unless we were not full time.

My guess is “always on” is unexplained watt usage for seco, gets grafted basically as such.

I also can or can’t explain is the 16 days of unplugged of all non use items I am 5.37 to 6.1 watts per day less than last month

Have you called SECO ? I wasn’t home when they replaced my meter so I didn’t have a chance to note the reading on the old meter. However, the numbers on their website for the old meter and new meter look about right.

Check if by mistake your hvac fan has been switched to always on. Or is your hvac running nonstop? Check your thermostat.
I would definitely call seco, 100% usage even if temps was 100 up from 80s wouldn’t cause that much increase.

Which page on the website has the numbers for the old meter? The only place I see numbers is on my bill and those are only for the new meter. I'd like to see what the reading was for the old meter.

Usage tab.

The month of the conversion will have both meters on the chart.

You can go to billing and lookup any bill . My billing goes back to 2/23

Sent them an email from their website. Waiting the hear back.

Thanks.

I've never had good luck with those tabs. Could be the browser I'm using or could be the display not meeting my expectations.

Looking on the Average Usage tab and narrowing the range I was able to see the old and new readings. I'll have to spend more time there to see what else is available.

For these sorts of things, I typically call as I like instant gratification ;-). They should be able to fix this quickly. Please report back.

You can now get daily usage. I was under the impression that we were going to be able to get usage in 15 min increments. Eventually, I believe they will be going to different rates based on the time of day.

The daily may be accurate. but most likely the appliance level is based upon the usage estimates per day the database has for each item, based upon survey answers. . . though the company doesn't know wheyou are home or not, so the estimate will take the always on item estimates, and call that the fixed portion usage and then break down the variable usage be estimates, and air conditioner, etc. may be based upon weather temperatures. . . .

at least that's how I did these types of graphs and forecasts during my finance career. .

I have only had my meter for about two weeks but I suspect it will take 30-60 days before there is enough data to start populating those screens.

There are already time of use (TOU) rates published. These meters will enable TOU billing but we'll have to see whether that is going to be a choice or a mandate.

I have had mine a bit longer and the daily usage is available now. No sign of the 15 min usage yet.

Each day it does breakdown per 15 min increments. Our pool creates very little wattage according to bar graft. It’s very consistent without running heater. The large spikes for AC correlates with run times.

Even with the hour based usage that was posted few months back Nov-Mar . The majority of SOP (midnight-6a) for us shouldn’t make much of a $ increase. We run pool pump with heater from midnight to 7am during Jan/Feb so temp is at 78 for early swim. Since AC rarely runs Nov-March some may actually save on hour based pricing.
But just an observation for our needs

OK, thanks, I took another look and just found the 15 minute data.

Once you get your bill it will break down different items from information you gave the app. The “always on” has us baffled, our second bill month will end in a week. So hopefully will be able to have better answers in a few weeks. We had some electrical work done, so full power was shut off 8:01a to 1203p will see how it’s reflected in tomorrow’s daily usage.

I do find the breakdowns interesting. We are creatures of habit, laundry 6a dishwasher 1am just before bed to get that last glass. Our hot water, stove and dryer are gas, so added to the app info. We created an every 15 minute verbal chart with Alexa, for 7 days and Our computer geek grand, has decided to breakdown app. Once completed he will submit a reconfiguration of app for credit to his professor. So new toy put to good use.

"Always on" could include things like your television in sleep mode, the garage door opener and wall units, any chargers you have plugged in but are not currently using, all those surge suppressors with the little light to show that they are on, GFCI outlets with the little light, any smart device, your stove and microwave, etc.

Yes, Alexa is robbing you of power while waiting on a command so don’t blame the electric utility for energizing her, LOL

That was a given, for items that had to be tethered to power 24/7 like WiFi, microwave, list goes on. GFCI outlets no longer have lights.
So as a one month experiment we evaluated all things we leave plugged in just for convenience, don’t use. For the second bill period, we unplugged everything in 2nd primary, and two guest bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (lamps Alexas nightlights). All chargers (laptops, iPads phones robot printers) until we need them about every 3-7days. Toaster, blenders, coffee pots. One doesn’t realize how many items are plugged in but not being used until you do a room by room.

As an experiment for our grandson, paper will see if his pre calculations are correct, evaluate watt per item, and how app is calculating use. Plus if life of products will increase

sooooooooo
 

...what did SECO say? This forum can't help. If they give you a wild explanation, let us know.:smiley:

If SECO gives me a wild explanation for what, why the meter change was transparent to me and I used the same amount of power this year as I did last year?

So it’s not just me reading posts before coffee,
priebehouse post confused me about your response that new and old meter is reading about the same.
Thought if was very helpful to the OP.

The new meters charge a rate for time of day and time of year and is not conducive to using anything during the summertime day. The snowbird season has the best rates. Do all your housekeeping, cooking business after hours and before the sun rises. Watch the a/c thermostat. Vampires get the best benefit from the new rate structures

Without your numbers, I can't determine if what you are stating is accurate.

NO.

The new meters report usage by the time of day but they do not affect how you are billed.

SECO has two billing rates for residential customers, the one we are all currently on and a time of use (TOU) billing. The new meters enable TOU billing but do not require it.

I haven't heard of anyone who is on the TOU billing...yet.

We are on month two of new meter. Even though we have not experienced the possible TOU yet, we geared pool, thermostat, dishwasher, washer with the rates and time that have been hinted at. Really didn’t change much from how we used electricity before.
We did start pool hour earlier, and I know all of our electric based pet items are a bigger draw than some expect (refrigerated multi day food bowl, flow water dish, and auto litter). Our cameras are next, then the WiFi. We have already noticed a daily difference by unplugging unused items in the 3 front bedrooms and bathrooms.

We are looking forward to doing the same once our data starts coming in. Not too many large shifts we can make but will be interesting to see how little changes might add up.

you can also use one of these.
https://www.amazon.com/Measuring-Ele...50877981&psc=1

There was a post on Nextdoor about the amount of radiation these meters put out. Anyone else read it?

Reportedly, less than the cell phone and wifi router sitting within five feet of me right now. Likely less than the smart devices (bulbs, plugs, cameras, etc) scattered around the house. Possibly less than the fitbit, Apple watch, or earbuds you are currently wearing.

No good will come from the meter change.
The info card insinuates SECO can brown you out or shut you off remotely.

You have either lived here or just joined TOTV since 2014. Have you ever had a brown out during that time.
Most of believe we will eventually be TOU based, but you really think seco is going to loose money by shutting off your power?

total FUD post

They might physically be able to do that, however, they legally can't, except for lack of payment. . .

Remote read only.

Meter change does not enable remote disconnect. They have to send someone to the property.

This is interesting but can't be accurate. According to my analysis we spend $31 on cooking and only $7 on HVAC in July. Somehow, that doesn't seem right to me... :)

My numbers similarly don't make sense. My meter had been in place for just two weeks and I believe the analysis is based on just the first week of that. Hopefully, the results will get better with more time.