It’s true; smart meters have made monitoring and regulating your electricity use easier. But that doesn’t mean you should just rush out and buy the first one you see. Smart meters aren’t cheap, and there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration before making such an important purchase.
Not doing your research
You will be better off if you do your research. Before making any decision, you must know what kind of smart meter to buy and how much it costs. There are various types of smart meters available in the market, and every type has its own pros and cons. Companies like Business Energy Comparison can help speed up your research by providing all the valuable insights right off the bat.
You should ensure that you have at least an idea about all the different types of smart meters before purchasing one for your business. Additionally, other factors like installation costs affect how much it will cost to install a particular smart meter, and maintenance fees for each type must be considered.
Not knowing the different types of smart meters
There are two types of smart meters, analogue and digital. The analogue meter is a traditional meter that uses an electromechanical mechanism to measure electricity. A meter reader can read it manually or remotely using radio signals from your home’s power company.
The digital smart meter transmits data on electricity usage to your utility provider in real-time via wireless technology, allowing you to monitor your energy use remotely on a computer or smartphone. It works like an automated meter reading (AMR) system—which means you’ll receive regular reports showing your monthly usage total by day or hour.
Not considering future proofing
Future-proofing your smart meter is critical for two reasons. First, it will help you get the most out of a smart meter investment by allowing you to use the device for as long as possible. Second, it can help reduce energy costs and reduce environmental impacts.
The best way to future-proof your smart meter is to do everything in your power before making any purchases to ensure that it has as long of a life span as possible. For example: if there are known issues with your business being prone to flooding, consider installing flood barriers around outlets where appliances may be plugged in.
Not having a plan in place
There are many reasons why data is collected, but not all of them have to do with business. If you’re not careful, you could end up spending money on a smart meter without ever using it for anything.
If that’s the case, then what’s the point? That’s why it’s important to plan for what you want to do with this data before purchasing one for your business. One way of doing this is by asking yourself:
- What will I use my smart meter for?
- How much information do I need from it?
- Do I know how much space I have available on my server or cloud storage account?
These questions might seem simple enough at first glance, but they can help guide your decision-making when purchasing a new device that costs thousands of dollars.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of things to consider when buying a new smart meter for your business. But if you’re careful with these four mistakes and do your research, it’s easy to find the right choice for your needs.
