New book by Larry Connors Click here Improve your trading - See how
Idaho Power Co. continues to remove old electricity meters from its 489,000 homes and businesses in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon, replacing them with new "smart meters." That work will be accelerated now, thanks to the $47 million in federal economic stimulus money the utility won this week.
The utility expects to complete installations in Ada County by the end of the year. Canyon County installations should be completed in 2010.
The meters move information about a home's energy use to the company's information and billing systems. The meters give homeowners and businesses online access to usage information, plus ways to lower their bills.
Part of the $47 million also will help Idaho Power modernize electric transmission and distribution networks.
The company will set up outage-management and irrigation load-control programs to reduce peak and overall energy use and improve system reliability, spokeswoman Piper Hyman said.
For example, Idaho Power could determine the source of an outage faster, whether it's a car hitting a power pole or a bird of prey dropping a snake on rural substation lines.
Idaho Power's improvements are part of a nationwide effort to create an electrical "smart grid" to use energy more efficiently.
Once you have a smart meter, Idaho Power says, you'll be able to experiment with your usage to determine how to lower your bills. The stimulus money will help Idaho Power provide even more detailed information on your home's energy usage.
For example, you could:
--See how much you can save by turning off lights in empty rooms by checking usage before and after.
--Watch how much usage dips when you cut back on your "phantom load" -- the electricity used by computers, coffee makers, televisions and other appliances, even when they are turned off.
--See when electricity is costliest during peak hours -- especially on summer afternoons, evenings and weekends -- so some usage can be moved from those times.
Idaho Power has online tutorials to teach customers how to use the meters. The stimulus money will help Idaho Power provide even more detailed information on your home's energy usage.
"One day, our nation will be synced up, and we will have appliances tell us when we are using them, (and whether) it's an off-time or an expensive part of the day," Hyman said.
The federal Department of Energy is expected to make the grant official during a meeting and negotiations with Idaho Power during the week of Nov. 16.
Colleen LaMay: 377-6448
To see more of the Idaho Statesman, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.idahostatesman.com Copyright (c) 2009, The Idaho Statesman, Boise Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
More News:
Market Updates |
Stock Alerts |
All Trading News |
Stock Index
About TradingMarkets | Contact | Advertise | Careers | Link to Us | Site Map | Help | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Return Policy | Testimonials | Feedback
The Connors Group, Inc. ("Company") is not an investment advisory service, nor a registered investment advisor or broker-dealer and does not purport to tell or suggest which securities or currencies customers should buy or sell for themselves. The analysts and employees or affiliates of Company may hold positions in the stocks, currencies or industries discussed here. You understand and acknowledge that there is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities and/or currencies. The Company, the authors, the publisher, and all affiliates of Company assume no responsibility or liability for your trading and investment results. Factual statements on the Company's website, or in its publications, are made as of the date stated and are subject to change without notice.
It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable or that they will not result in losses. Past results of any individual trader or trading system published by Company are not indicative of future returns by that trader or system, and are not indicative of future returns which be realized by you. In addition, the indicators, strategies, columns, articles and all other features of Company's products (collectively, the "Information") are provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Examples presented on Company's website are for educational purposes only. Such set-ups are not solicitations of any order to buy or sell. Accordingly, you should not rely solely on the Information in making any investment. Rather, you should use the Information only as a starting point for doing additional independent research in order to allow you to form your own opinion regarding investments. You should always check with your licensed financial advisor and tax advisor to determine the suitability of any investment.
HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING AND MAY NOT BE IMPACTED BY BROKERAGE AND OTHER SLIPPAGE FEES. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES HAVE NOT ACTUALLY BEEN EXECUTED, THE RESULTS MAY HAVE UNDER- OR OVER-COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN.
The Connors Group, Inc.
10 Exchange Place, Suite 1800
Jersey City, NJ 07302
© Copyright 2009 The Connors Group, Inc.
