2 In response to a question posed by the CPUC "We are aware of the IUMS as well as other attractive metering options and believe there is great potential for these Systems. At this time though, open questions include what metering standards will actually be imposed and whether 10,000,000 meters can be installed between the time the metering standards are adopted and 1/1/98. (Well, OK, 1/1/99, if 1998 is a finite pilot testing period.) If 10,000,000 new or retrofit meters can't be installed during that time, other mechanisms must also be developed to insure that all customers can receive fair treatment." The answer given was "Yes".
The building of The Meters can be accomplished by a retrofit program which will put all meter manufacturers to work doing the retrofit, replacing the mechanical component meter with an ANCI approved Meter.
3 InfoCo seems to be an extremely apt title for the Data Central, however it is evolved. USC has suggested the the banking industry may find this a very compatible service to their customers. The banking industry is already competitive and deeply involved in funds-handling using the telecommunications industry. One of the options for The Meter is the use of a Smart Card for pay as you go customers. The banking industry is in an ideal position to include utility bill paying as a service.
4 The Meter can either be equipped with a Modem to interface with any selected telecommunications system, or aggregated to the secondary side of a supplying transformer which is equipped with a Modem or an Upstream Meter that is integrated into the real time system. This is a matter of evolution and will be measured by economic necessity.
5 Unbelievably, the technology being described is not new. It has existed for several years, but the industry has refused to standardise and upgrade from their obsolete technology which they are now being forced to change.