San Diego Utility Continues Push for Time-Metered-Power

San Diego Gas and Electric has finally put the details on its much-talked-about proposal to charge customers by when they use their power--not just how much they use:

The plan that SDG&E has presented state utility regulators would require spending $420 million over four years to remove old power meters and install advanced meters for each of its 1.3 million customers. But the investment would provide savings of $660 million to customers over the long run, according to SDG&E.

The utility said the meters and new rate plan would trim peak power demand by 360 megawatts – equivalent to what's used by nearly 360,000 homes – and eliminate the need for several so-called peaker plants, units that are run only to meet demand on the hottest days of year.

The new meters also would eliminate the need for human meter readers and provide the utility with more immediate power-grid information, potentially reducing the likelihood or the duration of outages.