WhereElectricity Comes From

Metering technology has come a long way since Pioneer Electric was formed.

Not long ago, electric cooperatives relied on manual meter reading and contractor services to gather energy use data, typically on a monthly basis. The data collected from the meters was used to calculate your monthly energy usage and, ultimately, your electric bill. While this system worked well for many years, it had limitations. For example, it was difficult to detect power outages and other power quality issues in a timely manner.

Fast forward to today, and advanced metering infrastructure, or AMI, has revolutionized the way we collect and use this data. You may also hear this technology described as smart meters.

Pioneer Electric uses AMI to collect data on energy use from our members’ homes every day. This data is transmitted wirelessly using radio frequencies to a central data collection system, allowing us to monitor your energy usage and quickly identify any issues or anomalies.

When it comes to dispatching crews, AMI makes it easier to diagnose power issues. For example, if a member reports a voltage issue, the cooperative can use the meter data to determine if the problem is on the member’s side or the cooperative’s side. Additionally, the meter will give information if there’s been tampering, which is helpful for detecting meter issues when they happen.

One of the most significant benefits of AMI is its ability to communicate outages automatically. When a meter senses a