It’s a new school year, and students of all ages are getting ready for a fresh year. Kindergarteners and college students—and all students in between—will crack open books to build their skills, widen their perspectives and gain new knowledge.
In much the same way, Magic Valley Electric Cooperative is continually learning the best ways to implement technology and processes that improve electric service, reliability and safety and, in turn, enhance the quality of life for the members we serve.
MVEC is tapped into energy sector trends in an industry that’s rapidly changing. Innovations in technology and fuel types are increasing consumer demands and expectations. People are looking for more ways to manage their energy use with smart technologies, and folks expect more convenient payment methods—whether through automatic bill pay, prepay, online or through the MVEC mobile app.
We’re always looking for opportunities to make life easier for our members. At the same time, we never lose sight of our top priority—laid out by our founders more than 86 years ago: providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity to the communities we serve.
Technology Improves Efficiency
Automated meter reading automatically collects energy consumption data and transfers it from the electric meter to the co-op. Because this information can be collected remotely, it enhances our system’s efficiency, helps control costs and improves work processes.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) takes this technology one step further. This integrated system of smart meters, communications networks and data management systems enables two-way communication between your cooperative and its members’ meters. In the event of an outage, AMI helps to distinguish between events that impact a single home and something more widespread.
This distinction is critical because resolving these issues requires very different processes. Two-way communication is integral to AMI because it provides a means to verify that power has been restored after an outage. However, one of the biggest benefits of improved metering technologies, especially for outages caused by extreme weather, is pinpointing the outage location, which helps to reduce risk for crews out on the road during severe weather.
In addition to providing essential information during major outages, MVEC analyzes AMI data for anomalies including faults, damaged meters and energy theft. Detecting these problems early helps our cooperative save money and improves reliability for the community.
Energy for the Future
Consumer interest in green energy sources and renewables is at an all-time high. Nationwide, the increasing use of solar and wind energy is paving the way for new methods of generating and using electricity. That’s why we continue to research how best to adjust our energy mix for reliability and affordability.
For MVEC, our “school year” is never over. We’ll continue to learn from our members about their priorities, and we’ll continue to study and research the issues so that we can better serve you—now and well into the future.
