MEA meter upgrades moving ahead

EAGLE RIVER — Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) wants members to be prepared as the cooperative continues to upgrade meters for its 50,000 customers spread across 4,300 miles of power lines.

Julie Estey, director of external affairs for MEA and self-described “energy nerd,” detailed the two kind of meters members will see replaced thru August.

The oldest meters, manual meters, must be read by an MEA employee. Manual meters can neither send nor receive information.

Some manual meters were replaced with turtle meters, the first generation of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The original AMIs can send information but cannot receive data. These meters are at the “end of their useful lives” Estey explained.

The replacement meters, advanced AMIs, will have two-way communication.

“We had to make a move. This was the natural next step,” Estey said.

The AMIs will come at no extra cost to members and have several advantages over the old technology. The new meters can alert MEA to power outages and help feed an outage map.

“The only way we know about an outage is if someone calls us,” Estey said about the current system.

The advanced AMIs can alert MEA to malfunctioning meters and allow customers to chart their energy use.

“We get a better sense of the health our system … it helps us be more proactive,” Estey said.

Estey, a science enthusiast and penny pincher, charts her home’s energy use. She noticed a significant increase when she started using a heat lamp for her chickens. She took a break from poultry and saved on her power bill.

“You have more perspective,” she said regarding electricity monitoring. “You can make better choices.”

Estey warned about energy hogs: anything that needs a motor such as a microwave, hair dryer, space heater or power tools.

“People underestimate the cost of their outdoor hot tub,” Estey added.

Electric water heaters and old appliances (especially freezers) drain large amounts of energy. Members should also watch out for small leaks in their water pumps. Estey advocates LED lights which eventually pay for themselves.

“The cheapest kilowatt is the energy you don’t use,” she said.

Due to administrative changes in the federal government, power saving programs are in flux so Estey cannot recommend any rebate or grant programs. She does suggest visiting www.akenergysmart.org which has an energy curriculum for grades K-8.

While Estey is hard at work educating members, Keevah Davis, MEA meter reader, is busy upgrading old units.

Climbing down from a truck with yellow flashing lights, Davis took a moment to chat with a member across the street before she donned a white helmet, orange vest and protective eyewear. (She is clearly identified by an MEA badge.) Davis knocked on the door and received no answer. Inside, the dogs were howling. Davis is familiar with this house so she was not worried.

Davis cut the power, removed the old meter and replaced it with an AMI, turned the power back on and left a door hanger to notify the homeowner. The process took less than 10 minutes.

Davis said she loves her job and enjoys working outside.

“Our service area is unique. Widespread, remote, uncertain weather-- that’s part of the fun,” she said.

This past winter, Davis dealt with an extreme amount of snow.

“We were snow shoeing even to the simplest location,” she reported.

Davis gets to know the members she serves. One man would not let her leave before he gave her a loaf of banana bread.

“There’s a lot of wonderful members,” Davis said.

Besides meter upgrades, MEA is also clearing easements, mowing 20 to 30 feet around above-ground lines to prevent power outages. Members will receive a door hanger 48 hours in advance.

So far, Estey is not seeing any problems from the meter upgrades or the easement clearing.

“If there’s an issue, give us a call,” Estey encouraged.

According to Estey, ninety-nine percent of MEA employees are also members.

“We’re all MEA,” Estey said.

Melinda Munson is one of the Co-Conspirators in Communication at Tripod Communications, LLC, and a co-owner of Alaska Family Fun Online Magazine.