AMR Progress Report

May 2008
As of the first of May the Storla substation was automatically read and billed by Central Electric. By the end of the month we will have completed installation of meters at the Big Bend Substation.

This brings our current total of substations being read automatically to five. As we have reported before this is a giant undertaking for Central Electric and when this project was started we knew it would at least three years before all the meters are completely automated. At present it is taking approximately two months to complete a substation with meter changes, equipment installation and troubleshooting.  We at Central Electric are pleased with our progress and the benefits we and you our member/owners are already reaping. During the April 25 snow storm we were able to access information from the five AMR read substations and pinpoint where their outages were and when they were restored.

Chapman Metering LLC is now in the process of installing meters on the Pukwana and Emery substations.  They will change out submeters (heat meters) if the homeowner is present and they have access to them. If not Central Electric Metering Systems Coordinator Doug Schley, will call and schedule a time to install the new sub-meter.

April 2008
The Mitchell, Mount Vernon, Plankinton and Wessington Springs substations are now being read by Central Electric through the new AMR meters. Chapman Entering LLC has installed all the main meters and Central Electric has completed the installation of the sub-meters for the Storla substation. We are in the process now of installing the equipment in the Storla substation to automatically read these meters.

March 2008
As of the first of March we began automatically reading meters and billing members off the Wessington Springs substation. 

We are waiting on a shipment of AMR meters from Cannon and then Central Electric will schedule Chapman Engineering to return and begin installing AMR meters for the next substations.

The four substations in line for AMR installation are Big Bend, Storla, Pukwana and Emery respectively. Be sure to continue to read your Cooperative Connections each month as this is where we will keep you posted as to our progress in each substation, when we will begin billing that station and moving on to the next one.  Those of you on these substations continue to read your meters and pay your bill as usual until you receive notification from Central Electric that things are working correctly and we will be sending your bill monthly. 

February 2008
The Mitchell, Mount Vernon and Plankinton substations are now being read by Central Electric through the new AMR meters. Chapman Engineering has installed all the main meters and Central electric has completed the installation of the submeters for the Wessington Springs substation. We are in the process now of installing the equipment in the substation to automatically read these meters.

There is no set date at this time as to when we will be ready to read and bill the Wessington substation. Those of you on the Wessington Springs substation will be notified by letter when we will begin this process. Until then please continue to read your meters and submitted your payments as usual.

January 2008
The first bills for the people off the Plankinton substation were mailed the first week in January. Chapman Engineering has completed installing all the AMR meters for the Wessington Springs substation. We are in the process of changing out the submeters for the Wessington Springs substation. At this time there is no definite time table as to when the Wessington Springs Substation AMR system will be operational and billed. 
 
December 2007
If you are served by the Plankinton or Wessington Springs substations please continue to read your meters until you receive a letter telling you the Central Electric will be reading the meters automatically and mailing your bill. 

November 2007
The first bills for the members served by the Mount Vernon substation were sent out November 5. Chapman Metering has completed replacing all the main AMR meters for the Plankinton substation and Central Electric is in the process of replacing the submeters. Chapman Metering has started replacing the main AMR meters on the Wessington Springs substation.

October 2007
Most of the AMR meters have been installed at the Mount Vernon substation and we are waiting for the new underground feeder between the Mitchell and Mount Vernon substations to be completed to begin testing these meters. The contractor, Chapman Engineering will begin installing meters in the Plankinton substation area soon.

September 2007
The second billing has gone out to members on the Mitchell substation. However, we won’t be moving on to the Mount Vernon substation quite yet. This is an important time in Central Electric’s AMR installation project and we are dedicated to making sure the technology is working 100 percent before we move on to the next substation.

August 2007
The Mitchell substation is now up and working and on Friday, August 3 the first automatic bills were mailed to the members served by the Mitchell sub. We have been extremely please with all the positive feedback from members on the implementation of the AMR system.

July 2007
AMR project is an extremely large undertaking for Central Electric, therefore our timetable for completion is a little over three years. Chapman Engineering has been contracted to change out the meters.

June 2007
Central Electric began the implementation of a new automated meter reading (AMR) system in late June. An AMR system is a technology that allows Central Electric to remotely obtain information from the electric meter. The 2 million dollar project is designed to benefit member-owners with convenience and benefit cooperative personnel with increased efficiency and safety.
 
We again ask that you read “Cooperative Connections” newsletter each month as we continue to inform you on our progress.

Below are a number of questions that we have complied to answer some of the questions we are hearing from members. If you should have questions or concerns regarding the implementation of the AMR system please call us at 996-7516 or 1-800-477-2892. Or go to our website at www.centralec.coop, click on the “Contact Us” in the blue box at the top right-hand corner and send us an email.

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