Photo: WBZ Photo Archive
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — In Cambridge's effort to shift to clean energy by 2050, the city has started installing electric smart meters from Eversource.
"So, what smart meters do is actually help us and the utilities both understand how much electricity is going to be used so they don't have to kick in those back up power plants that tend to be more expensive and more polluting," Cambridge's Chief Climate Officer Julie Wormser said.
The meters read every 15 minutes, giving residents real time notifications and insight into their kilowatt usage. It also alerts Eversource to power outages.
"You can understand what is using so much electricity," Wormser said. "Is it your dryer? Is it your video game use? Is it that you need more insulation? You can do something about it because you have real time data."
Cambridge is just one of the many communities in Eversource's mission to replace all existing electric meters with smart meters in Massachusetts. So far, around 600,000 have been installed in the state.
Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui said she was excited to see what most of her electricity is going towards.
"I'm going to check, because I've had some high bills," Siddiqui said. "I'm really curious about what we're using our energy on."
Wormser said the new meters are a step in the right direction for Cambridge's clean energy shift.
“Things like smart meters are essential in helping residents and others through that transition," Wormser said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Jared Brosnan (@JaredBrosnanWBZ) reports.