PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Public Utility District is advancing its deployment of advanced metering infrastructure, a key component in modernizing its energy grid.
AMI, which integrates smart meters, communication networks and data management systems, enables two-way communication between utilities and customers.
By the end of July, the PUD had installed 17,759 AMI systems, and by early August, that number rose to about 18,300.
“The PUD aims to complete the rollout by December 2025,” said Jason Seibel, Clallam County PUD operations superintendent.
“The technology helps us narrow down where our outages are,” Seibel said.
“Key locations such as Discovery Bay, Sequim, Port Angeles, Neah Bay and Forks have been equipped with AMI collectors to ensure regional coverage,” he added.
The PUD’s decision to implement AMI followed a review of its existing meter infrastructure, recognizing the need for modernization to enhance efficiency and meet future demands.
The deployment of advanced meters began in 2019 and is scheduled for four to five years. These meters, while similar to traditional ones in recording energy usage, use radio frequency (RF) waves for data transmission, similar to cell phones and wi-fi but at lower energy levels.
Unlike older one-way meters, advanced meters support two-way communication, offering several benefits.
AMI reduces the need for physical meter readings. In challenging terrains, data transmission over power lines further minimizes field visits. That shift improves operational efficiency, reduces costs and enhances safety for PUD employees, according to Clallam PUD advanced meter information.
“The crews that respond to outages will have up-to-date information in real time,” PUD Commissioner John Purvis said.
“It’s very good at allowing a quick response to managing outages during a major event,” Purvis said. “We could have as many as 200 simultaneous outages, and AMI reports the outages immediately. It goes into our outage management system where previously, years ago, it could take literally hours or even a day to make assessments.”
AMI also enhances customer privacy by minimizing property access and ensures consistent billing cycles, eliminating the need for estimates due to inaccessible readings, the PUD said.
The advanced meters provide accurate billing and precise data, facilitating remote service management, detecting energy theft and improving power restoration during outages, the PUD said.
AMI contributes to a more reliable electrical distribution system with better voltage control and quicker diagnosis of power quality issues, reducing field visits and improving system reliability. The technology also lowers the PUD’s carbon footprint by reducing vehicle usage for meter reading and service calls, leading to environmental benefits and significant cost savings, PUD data said.
The AMI system is projected to cut operating costs by over $300,000 annually, the PUD said.
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Reporting intern Christopher Urquia is a student at Peninsula College. He can be reached by email at christopher.urquia@peninsuladailynews.com.
