A village in Illinois is to start using ComEd’s smart electricity grid to read its water meters.

The ComEd smart grid has provided electric service and more control over energy use and costs. It will provide even more value for South Elgin as it becomes one of the first communities in the region to use the smart meter infrastructure to enable smart water meters.

The South Elgin Village Board of Trustees voted in favour of the plan last week.

“In addition to making service more reliable and resilient for families and businesses, ComEd’s smart grid network enables smart streetlights, smart water meters and others that help conserve resources and enhance safety,” said ComEd president Terence Donnelly. “By partnering with our communities, we’re delivering these additional benefits to residents and business owners without the burden and cost of building a redundant network.”

Water utilities can securely tap into ComEd’s system, which enables two-way communications over a fixed wireless network, to operate smart water meters without large capital outlays to build their own separate wireless infrastructure. Smart water meters create efficiencies including the ability to read water meters remotely, obtain hourly consumption data, perform remote connect and disconnect, and detect leaks.

“This is such a good step forward for everyone who pays a water bill in our community,” said South Elgin village president Steve Ward. “With a glance at a computer or a smart phone, residents will know how much water they’re using at any point of the day, or if they have a leaking toilet or forgot to turn off a garden hose for a couple of days. It’s smart, and it can save money too.”

The South Elgin Public Works Department will oversee the installation of approximately 8000 smart water meters beginning this summer and concluding early next year.

Cities throughout the world are realising positive results by taking advantage of their smart meter networks.

“Our project illustrates the power of a smart grid network that can support multiple applications,” Donnelly said. “We expect that other northern Illinois communities will soon follow South Elgin’s lead.”