It’s a new school year and kids of all ages are getting ready for a fresh year of learning! From kindergarten through college, students attend school to gain knowledge about a broad variety of subjects and learn new skills that will prepare them for the future. In a similar vein, Heartland REMC is continually learning in order to advance technology that improves electric service, reliability, safety and, in turn, enhances quality of life for the members we serve in our local communities.
Heartland REMC keeps abreast of industry trends because the energy sector is rapidly changing. Innovations in technology and energy types are fueling demand for more options. On the consumer front, people are looking for more ways to manage their energy use with smart technologies. Consumers expect more convenient payment methods – whether through automatic bill-pay, pre-pay, online or in person. Heartland REMC offers all of these options!
We’re working to help sift through the options for our members in ways that benefit the greater community. At the same time, we never lose sight of the top priority – providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity.
Technology improves operational efficiency
There is a technology called advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). This is an integrated system of meters, communications networks and data management systems that enables two-way communication between utilities and consumers.
In the event of an outage, AMI helps to distinguish between events that impact a single home or multiple outages. This is critical because resolving either issue is a very different process. The 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 from improved 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 events.
In addition to providing essential information during major outages, Heartland REMC analyzes AMI data for anomalies including faults, damaged meters or energy theft. Detecting these problems early helps our cooperative save money and improve reliability for the whole community.
Energy for the future
Whether it’s examining green energy options or exploring how emerging technologies can better serve our members, for Heartland REMC our “school year” is never over. We will continue to learn from our members about their priorities for the future, and we will continue to study and research the issues so that we can better serve you, now and in the future.
