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Advanced Meter Infrastructure Upgrade

Itasca-Mantrap is in the process of making a substantial investment in infrastructure by installing a new advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system. Modernizing our equipment and communication capabilities is essential to maintaining the service our members expect. We are investing in new equipment, including advanced meters. The new meters will help us respond more quickly to outages, resulting in shorter restoration times. They will also provide better tracking of momentary outages, helping us to address member power concerns. The meters will give members the information they need to use energy wisely. Itasca-Mantrap plans to begin installing AMI equipment in the fall of 2021.

BENEFITS FOR CO-OP MEMBERS

  • Improved Efficiency: Members don’t have to wait for a crew to drive to the location to reconnect, Itasca-Mantrap will be able to reconnect power remotely.
  • Improved Member Service:  The AMI system will allow Itasca-Mantrap to offer more timely information regarding their energy consumption, allowing members to make wise decisions about how they use energy.
  • Improved Reliability: Having two-way communication with the AMI meters will enhance Itasca-Mantrap’s outage management system by narrowing the location of outages more quickly.
  • Improved Power Quality: The AMI system will report variances in voltage and other line conditions that will help Itasca-Mantrap maintain a more reliable power distribution system.

 

ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS

Why is Itasca-Mantrap changing out our meters?

We began installation of our existing automated metering system in 2008 and has reached its end of life. The manufacturer is no longer supporting this old equipment.  
With the new metering infrastructure, we will have the ability to: 

•    Provide members hourly data to assist them in better managing their usage.
•    Provide information faster to assist in situations such as power outages.
•    Refine and manage the internal engineering portion of our business, such as line loss, transformer loading, voltage readings, etc.

Is this new meter a “smart meter”?

No, this new meter isn’t “smarter” than the meters we’ve used for the last two decades in that it does not tell us when you open your refrigerator or when you turn your lights off and on, etc.  Itasca-Mantrap has utilized an Automated Meter Reading system (AMR) to facilitate daily remote meter reads on our meters since 2000. 

How does my new AMI meter work?

Like your current meter, Itasca-Mantrap can read the meter remotely from our office.  The collected data includes usage readings, voltage levels, and outage/blink information. This data will not be shared with any third parties. 

What’s the difference between the new meters and the old meters?

One difference is that the old AMR meters utilize power-line carrier technology (use of power lines to transmit data). With the old AMR meters, if a power line went down during an outage, communication with the meter was lost.  The new AMI meters utilize a licensed, secure radio frequency system to transmit meter data during outages.  Another big difference is the capabilities of obtaining readings at 15 minutes increments, versus our previous system that only submitted daily readings.    

Some additional benefits of the new meter include:
  • Improved Efficiency: Members don’t have to wait for a crew to drive to the location to reconnect, Itasca-Mantrap will be able to reconnect power remotely.
  • Improved Member Service:  The AMI system will allow Itasca-Mantrap to offer more timely information regarding their energy consumption, allowing members to make wise decisions about how they use energy.
  • Improved Reliability: Having two-way communication with the AMI meters will enhance Itasca-Mantrap’s outage management system by narrowing the location of outages more quickly.
  • Improved Power Quality: The AMI system will report variances in voltage and other line conditions that will help Itasca-Mantrap maintain a more reliable power distribution system.
Who will be changing out the meters?

Itasca-Mantrap employees will be changing out the meters. 

When will my meter be installed?

The project will occur over approximately two years as we migrate to the new system. 

Will I lose electrical service during the installation?

Yes, however the impact of the installation will be minimal. Co-op members can expect to lose power for a just a few minutes on the day of installation. You may need to reset electronic clocks and other devices.

How will I know if my meter has been changed?

You will see two meter readings on your bill: one from the old meter and one from the new meter.  The meter installer will leave a door tag to let you know they changed the meter. 

How much is this project going to cost?

The total project will cost roughly $3 million to add infrastructure and update more than 16,000 meters on our system. Itasca-Mantrap leadership staff and the Board of Directors has been planning this project for years and has worked hard to budget for this project.  

Do I own the meter?

No. The AMI meter is owned by Itasca-Mantrap. 

What information does the new meter record?

The new meter records an electronic kWh reading, the date and time of energy usage, the overall peak demand of the electric account and the number of times the meter has experienced a loss of power for any reason. The meter will record the date and time of light blinks and the length of the power outage.  The voltage monitoring ability will also aid our dispatchers in analyzing line conditions. 

How secure will the new meters be?

The meter display is visible for members to be able to check their consumption, just like their old 
meters.  All other information and data stored in the meter is secure and the meter is sealed.  Data stored inside the meter is usage and location data only. No personal information (i.e. Member information) is stored inside of the meter. 

Will someone other than the co-op be able to read the new meter?

No, the AMI system utilizes a licensed data encrypted 900MHZ system to transmit meter data from the meter to Itasca-Mantrap, so it is secure from unauthorized access. Our goal is to upgrade the electric distribution system to make is safer, more secure and more reliable. 

Can the cooperative remotely disconnect/reconnect electric service using the new meters?

Yes, meters will have both remote disconnect and remote reconnect capabilities. During power outages, damage repair will still require lineworkers to come on site to repair damage.  

Will the new meter notify the co-op when the power goes out?

Yes, in most cases. The new AMI meters are capable of initiating two-way communications. This means that the meter can report outages and voltage variances, as well as other line conditions, without being prompted from our office. However, we still encourage members to contact us to confirm they are experiencing a power outage.  

Does this meter give off harmful radio waves nonlinear radiation wave (meaning the body doesn’t absorb the wave like an x-ray)?
  • Any radio wave energy from the meter is very limited and has not been found to create health problems.
  • You would need to stand in front of your meter for 50 years to obtain the same amount of frequency you receive with 1 cellphone call.
  • The system is a 900 MHz equal to a baby monitor, garage door opener buttons, and a cordless telephone.
  • An in-home router runs at a higher frequency than our meters.
  • The meter will not cause interference.  Does not cause radio static.
  • The 900 MHz band is governed by FCC part 15 (47 CFR 15)
  • The FCC limits the 900 MHz device to operate at 1 watt and 24dbm.

Do I have a choice of getting an AMI meter?

In the event installation is firmly declined, the member will be charged an RF Meter Opt-Out fee equal to 70% of the monthly basic charge for each service location currently in place. In addition, members would be required to submit monthly meter readings. If a reading is not submitted, a fee equal to the current collection fee will be charged to have an Itasca-Mantrap team member drive to the site to read the meter. 
Members that choose the opt out option will not have access to: 

  • Automated Outage Reporting – Itasca-Mantrap will not have the ability to remotely verify an outage without an RF meter. If the cause of the outage reported is found to be on the member side of the meter, the member will be charged the standard service call fee set in place (includes labor and mileage). If it is on the Itasca-Mantrap side of the meter, the member will not be charged.
  • Load Management program – Due to the requirement for communication through a radio frequency for administering load control programs, members that opt out will not be able to utilize Itasca-Mantrap’s off-peak, dual fuel or other load management programs.

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OFFICE HOURS:
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  |  Monday - Friday

PHONE:
(218) 732-3377 or (888) 713-3377

EMAIL:
itasca@itasca-mantrap.com

ADDRESS:
Itasca-Mantrap Cooperative Electrical Association
PO Box 192
Park Rapids, MN 56470

Employee Login

©2023 Itasca-Mantrap. All Rights Reserved. This institution is an equal opportunity employer.

  • About Us
    • About Itasca-Mantrap
    • Board of Directors
    • News
    • Newsletters
    • Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
    • Associated Organizations
    • Energy Mix
    • Bylaws & Articles of Incorporation
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Member Services
    • Billing
      • Payment Options
      • SmartHub
      • Rates
      • Cold Weather Rule
      • Military Protection
      • Sales Tax Exemption
    • New Service
    • Start/Stop Service
    • Service Improvements
    • Load Management Programs
    • Capital Credits
    • Contractor Information
    • Electrical Inspections
    • Member Privacy
  • Energy Efficiency
    • Rebates
    • SolarWise
    • Renewable Energy
    • Electric Vehicles
    • Advanced Meter Infrastructure Upgrade
    • Energy Efficiency Resources
    • Together We Save
  • Community
    • Co-op Connections
    • Annual Meeting
    • Economic Development
    • Energy and Youth
    • GreenTouch
    • Operation Round Up
    • Touchstone Energy Community Award
    • Youth Tour
  • Safety
    • Call Before You Dig
    • Generator Safety
    • Surge Protection
    • Vegetation Management
    • Safety Quiz
  • Outage Center