Start talking about energy, electricity and the National Smart Grid and you get a variety of responses and opinions. In Texas and throughout ERCOT (The Electric Reliability Council of Texas) the electricity conversation is no different. As of late May 2011, approximately 3,500,000 Smart Meters have replaced the older “dial” meters on residences throughout Texas. These older “dial” meters are utilizing technology which is about 50 years old and while they have served their purpose well, new energy technology is taking precedence. That consumers did not have a choice combined with bad press early on has made overall acceptance of the new smart meters a difficult pill to swallow. While the new Advanced Meter Systems (AMS) are more accurate, this again is part of consumer concern. Accuracy works both ways though. Old technology may have given you an extra little break on you usage reads one month but another month it may have worked against you. It is a good thing that Smart Meters are more accurate and they provide the market more options. Our guess is that 3 – 5 years after the last meters are installed many of the existing concerns will be forgotten and consumers will be enjoying the benefits of the new meters. Texas Power intends to highlight several of the new smart meter features and possibilities in the coming days but for now we wanted to offer a quick update of the ERCOT region via the Transmission Distribution Utilities a.k.a TDU’s. To break down the approximate 3.5 million smart meters installed to date, here are the numbers by the service or TDU territory.