Smart meters

Building a smart energy future

Smart meters and related system improvements detect outages faster and help provide you with better service. Smart meters are an industry standard, with roughly 65 million currently in place, serving more than 50% of households nationally.

Key benefits of smart meters

Detecting problems faster
When power goes out, smart meters help identify problems instantly in most cases, which means problem solving can start right away. We can detect most outages automatically and read your meter without needing to visit or disturb you.

Preparing for the future
Smart meters and related system upgrades enable better integration of power from cleaner renewable energy sources like rooftop solar or other home renewable energy systems.

Reducing pollution

Collecting meter readings wirelessly means we can reduce vehicle emissions because we will no longer have to send trucks to every property we serve.

Keeping the lights on
Many parts of our current electrical systems are old and reaching the end of their useful life. By installing smart meters and related system upgrades, we’ll be able to continue delivering energy safely, reliably and efficiently.

Giving you more control over your energy bill
When you have better information, you have better control—smart meters capture data in near real-time of how much, and when, you use energy. This capability will allow the introduction of tools that provide greater control of your energy bills.

Frequently asked questions

How do smart meters work?

Our smart meter system uses remote, two-way wireless communication to retrieve customer meter data (meter number, energy usage and diagnostic information) and send it through a secure and proprietary network.

How often does the signal transmit?

About one second per day – or roughly 30 seconds per month. Each signal lasts 0.15 seconds. The smart electric meter will usually signal seven times per day. This includes six signals per day that indicate usage information and a seventh signal that conveys energy diagnostics. There may be additional signals as outages or other diagnostic needs arise. The smart natural gas modules sends six signals per day indicating usage information.

Don’t smart meters signal all day?

Alliant Energy smart meters do not. We use a hub-and-spoke type network, where there is no communications signal when the meter is idle. Meters that signal more often are usually set up in a “mesh network” which means they signal the central office and each other much more often. Alliant Energy is not using a mesh network.

How common is this type of signal?

The smart meter signal uses low-energy radio frequency (RF). RF is used for a variety of purposes, like cell phones, Wi-Fi routers, baby monitors, Blue-tooth enabled devices, microwave ovens and TV towers.

Are radio frequency levels regulated?

Yes. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sets RF limits and requires that all radio communicating devices be tested to ensure that they meet federal standards. RF from smart meters is many times lower than the FCC standard.

What studies have been done on health impacts?

An in-depth review of numerous scientific studies by the World Health Organization has confirmed that the small amount of RF energy is not harmful to human health.

What type of information is being transmitted?

Only meter numbers, energy usage readings and diagnostic information are transmitted. Personal data is not collected.

How secure is the information being sent from the customer’s meter to Alliant Energy?

Just as banking, credit card, and cable industries secure your information electronically, in the utility industry we use the same advanced security and encryption technology to safeguard your data. We adhere to national cyber-security standards to ensure privacy and security of customer and smart meter data.

How do you ensure accuracy of smart meters?

All of our smart meters are tested for accuracy at the factory, using calibrated reference standards that provide reproducible and verifiable results. While it’s not required, we also sample test shipments of meters received as a secondary check prior to approving meters for installation.

Are smart meters safe for properties?

Yes. Smart meters are safer than older-style analog meters.

In other parts of the United States, known meter failures are generally attributed to factors unrelated to the type of meter a customer has. The main factors are:

Worn connections and components inside meter bases that should have been repaired or replaced but were not
Customer tampering
Accidents

We require thorough training for meter installers and rigorous inspections during all meter installations. If our installation team identifies an unsafe condition in the meter box, they will either report it to you for review by your electrician, or make the repair if they are further along in the meter replacement process. In any case, we will not proceed with the installation until it’s safe to do so.

Safety is the #1 priority for our customers, employees and the communities we serve. We’ve been operating smart meters safely for a decade for 470,000 of our Wisconsin electric customers.

Is there an alternative to a smart meter?

(For Iowa customers) Yes, there is an alternative. You can request a nonstandard meter (charges may apply).

Please review the eligibility requirements for choosing the nonstandard meter alternative. Fewer than 1% of our customers are choosing the nonstandard meter.

You may also relocate your electric smart meter at cost. Safety considerations may limit the ability to relocate your natural gas meter.

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Smart meters

Building a smart energy future

Key benefits of smart meters

Frequently asked questions

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