AES Indiana just installed new Landis+Gyr meters at several of my commercial clients in Indianapolis. Getting bizarre power factor readings that don't match our on-site monitoring equipment. One client shows 0.68 PF on their AES bill but our Fluke power quality analyzer consistently reads 0.89-0.92. AES claims their new meters are "revenue grade" and more accurate than customer equipment. Has anyone else seen issues with these newer digital meters giving erratic PF measurements?
AES Indiana new digital meters showing weird PF readings
Greg, we've seen similar issues with PG&E's new smart meters here in San Jose. The problem is often related to how the meters handle harmonic distortion and phase angle calculations. Some digital meters are oversensitive to brief voltage sags or load transients that analog meters would average out. Request the raw interval data from AES - you might find the low readings occur during specific times like motor starts or HVAC cycling.
Had this exact issue with Evergy here in Kansas last year. Their new Itron meters were measuring power factor at the wrong frequency bandwidth, picking up harmonics that skewed the readings. The solution was getting an independent power quality study that met IEEE 1459 standards. When we presented the data to Evergy showing their meter calibration was off, they credited back $31K in penalties and recalibrated the meter. Don't let AES dismiss your equipment readings without proper investigation.
Greg, check if AES is measuring displacement PF or total PF. Many utilities switched to total PF measurement with their smart meter rollouts without properly notifying customers. Total PF includes harmonic distortion effects that displacement PF ignores. If your Fluke is set to measure displacement PF and AES is billing on total PF, that could explain the discrepancy. Entergy pulled this same switcheroo down here in Louisiana.
Brenda's onto something with the displacement vs total PF issue. RG&E up here in Rochester had similar "meter accuracy" problems that turned out to be measurement methodology changes. AES should provide you with the meter's technical specifications and calibration certificates. If they're using different algorithms than the previous meters, customers deserve proper notification and transition time. File a complaint with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission if AES won't provide the technical documentation.
Got the interval data from AES and you're all right - they switched to measuring true power factor without notification. The low readings correspond exactly to when our client's variable speed drives ramp up, creating harmonic distortion. AES is now claiming this is "more accurate billing" but their tariff still references "power factor" without specifying displacement vs total. Filing formal complaint with IURC tomorrow.
Greg, make sure your IURC complaint includes the economic impact on customers who made capital investments in traditional power factor correction equipment. When OG&E tried this in Oklahoma, we argued that changing measurement methodology without grandfathering existing installations violated regulatory fairness principles. The Corporation Commission agreed and required OG&E to credit affected customers and provide 18-month transition period for equipment upgrades.
Following up on Susan's point about economic impact - document all your client's historical power factor correction investments. Capacitor banks, controllers, maintenance costs, everything. The regulatory argument is that customers relied on the existing measurement standard when making these capital expenditures. Changing the rules retroactively essentially devalues their investments and penalizes good corporate citizenship in power quality management.
Greg, also check AES's meter installation procedures. When Georgia Power switched to similar meters, we found they weren't following proper commissioning protocols. Some meters were installed with default factory settings instead of utility-specific parameters. If AES didn't properly configure the meters for their local system conditions, that could explain the erratic readings. Request copies of the meter commissioning reports for each affected location.
Ray brings up a great point about commissioning. Evergy had to replace 23 meters in our territory because they were installed with incorrect CT ratios and voltage scaling factors. The meters were physically accurate but mathematically wrong for the specific service configurations. AES should provide complete installation and testing documentation for any disputed meters. If they can't produce proper commissioning records, that's grounds for questioning all the readings.
Greg, document everything for your IURC filing - interval data, meter specs, commissioning records, economic impact analysis. JEA tried similar smart meter "upgrades" here in Jacksonville and the Florida PSC required them to provide parallel billing for 6 months to validate the new meters against old methodology. Indiana should offer similar customer protections. This affects every commercial and industrial customer in AES territory, not just your clients.
Update from Florida - FPL just settled a similar case for $2.3 million in customer credits after their smart meters were found to have incorrect power factor algorithms. The settlement included requirements for independent third-party verification of all new meter installations and customer notification 90 days before any billing methodology changes. Indiana should demand similar customer protections from AES. This is becoming a nationwide issue as utilities upgrade to smart metering systems.