A new automatic metering system being implemented by the Dominica Electricity Services (DOMLEC) will allow its staff to connect and disconnect customers without having to leave their offices.
DOMLEC has already begun installing the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in the greater Roseau area, and expects to install some 27,000 AMI meters by the end of 2011, according to the Communications and Marketing Manager Adina Bellot-Valentine.
“We started in the greater Roseau area in November of last year. Everybody in Dominica at the end of 2011 will have an AMI meter. We expect to install at least 27,000 meters within the three-year period. This came about as a pilot project we had started in Fond Cole about two years ago, and because of the success of the programme we decided that we wanted to move full scale ahead,” she explained on Wednesday at a Dominica Festivals Committee (DFC) press conference.
“It will give us the opportunity to connect, disconnect, automatically from our offices. We’ll also be able to read your meters from our offices as well,” Valentine explained.
Currently, DOMLEC’s employees are able to read meters from their offices of some of the consumers’ who have AMI meters. However, Valentine noted that when the entire service is completed island-wide, DOMLEC will go full scale into the project where the automatic disconnection and connection is concerned.
She anticipates criticisms about the new service, adding “Some people will say ‘all you going to do what all you want with it’”; but Valentine said this will not be the case.
Consumers will have access to their meter readings online when the entire system has been setup by DOMLEC.
“So you can go [on the computer] with a special code and check your meter readings on a day to day basis. So it wouldn’t be at the end of the month when DOMLEC come and say you use 600 units for the month. You can call any day of the week or anytime of the month and you get a reading from your meter. So you yourself can chart your own progress or your usage within your home,” the company’s spokesperson informed.
The other advantage is that DOMLEC will now know when there is an outage in an area at a specific residence during natural disasters. “[When] we’ve restored power to let’s say Kennedy Avenue, and there’s one particular person in Kennedy Avenue whose power has not been restored, we will see that on our system before you the customer call us and tell us that. So our crews will be there even before you call, so the automatic metering also has its advantages. We’re hoping for the continued cooperation of Dominicans as we continue to install it,” Valentine said.
i agree with you far away but so near
instead they invest in ways to make power cheaper in dominica they doing this?
Will customers be able to pay their bill online?…..those who are able to.
SHOULD IT BE THAT CASE WHERE THE CUSTOMER CAN COMPARE HIS METER READING TO THAT WWHICH APPEARS ON LINE AND AS WELL AS THE BILL WHEN ISSUED BY DOMLEC, IN MY MIND, DOMLEC WOULD HAVE MET ITS GOAL, IN THAT BOTH THE CUSTOMER AND THE COMPANY BENEFITS.
Does this new system allow the consumer to read his own meter manually? From the tone of the story it appears that one can access their meter readings online only.
Not many people have internet readily accessible for a quick reading of their meters. What about the many computer illiterate folks?
For this system to work, wouldnt you need an analog phoneline to access this meter, will you Domlec provide this line? Will you be using the consumers’ phoneline to access this meter? Does the meters have their own wireless conectivity systems built in. Please give us some technical insite into how this thing works? Thanks.
It’s about time. Hope there won’t be any hidden charges but I truly believe there is a catch but only time will tell.
Don’t let us down DOMLEC.
LOWER PRICE NOW?
haHA THE ONLY THING WE NEED FROM DOMLEC AGAIN IS TO PAY LESS AT THE END OF THE MONTH.ITS GOOD THAT ALL U CAN DO SO AND YES IT WILL ALSO BE TO THE CUSTOMERS ADVANTAGE BUT PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE REDUCE THE COST OF ELETRICITY NON ON D POOR AND gOD WILL BLESS DOMLEC
next should be changing those inefficient generator!!!!
Finally we getting there
Thats cool can’t wait to get the new bill at the end of the month, Im sure they will charge me even more for their convenience…
Well, less employees now to connect and disconnect…..
The price of electricity wiil decrease now..
Don’t disconnect my refridgerator, ’cause I got alot of meat and chicken and fish in the deep freeze and don’t disconnect my water heater, ’cause I got to take a bath everyday to look good and smell good. Everything else you can disconnect.