AMI Meters FAQ

In the early 2000s Virginia Tech Electric Service begin installing meters that used radio frequency (rf) transmission. The meters replaced the need to manually go to each meter and write down their reads, instead trucks would drive by homes and businesses to pick up meter readings. The new AMI meters collect and transmit encrypted electric power metrics, consumption data and/or alarms through intermittent two-way communication with a private cellular VPN replacing the need to drive by. 

Virginia law § 56-245.1. Requires Virginia Tech Electric Services to “keep meter[s] in good working condition.” The RF meters the Virginia Tech Electric Service installed in the early 2000s are aging past their useful life and need to be replaced. AMI meters have become the standard for utilities around the country. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2021 about 73% of total residential electric meters in the U.S. were AMI meters.

AMI meters provide several benefits:

• They allow for remote meter reading and handling of customer requests, such as new service connections, service transfers, or disconnections.
• In the event of a power outage, the AMI meter will alert the Virginia Tech Electric Service immediately, enabling quicker service restoration.
• They help reduce carbon emissions by collecting and transmitting electric power metrics, consumption data, and/or alarms through intermittent two-way communication.

Yes, AMI meters are safe due to their direct two-way communication. They typically transmit less than five minutes a day, as opposed to older meters which would transmit constantly. The RF emissions from our AMI meters are well below the limits set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other international health agencies.

To learn more this report from Tantalus, the AMI Vendor Virginia Tech Electric Service is working with.

Virginia Tech Electric Service considers customer information security a top priority. The data transmitted through the AMI system to and from the meter is encrypted using a special proprietary technique. VTES continues to monitor and test for security threats. None of your account information is included in the data transferred. 

Yes, meters come pretested along with results directly from the manufacturer. The radio device will be tested for accuracy during the meter collection process regularly.

AMI meters will automatically and remotely report the location of outages, but please don’t hesitate to call us, particularly if you can provide us any information regarding the cause, e.g., fallen tree or limb.

Mechanical meters haven't been manufactured in the U.S. since 2007 and are no longer available. The Virginia Tech Electric Service has been installing radio frequency meters for more than 20 years. AMI meters are essentially the same as the radio frequency meters we used to install, except that they are updated to provide two-way communication.

The installation process is straightforward and will be carried out by our team of trained professionals who will ensure minimal disruption to your power supply during the installation. The process typically takes about five minutes to switch out the meters and service should only be interrupted for less than five minutes. You do not need to be home for this installation.