City tests new smart grid system

Randy Daro, City of Fulton Electric Department worker, installs a new meter outside a house on Court Street. The meter is part of a smart grid system the city is testing.
Randy Daro, City of Fulton Electric Department worker, installs a new meter outside a house on Court Street. The meter is part of a smart grid system the city is testing.

Fulton is currently working on installing a "smarter" meter system for its residents.

The City of Fulton Utilities Department is testing new meters it installed over the last two weeks in the central part of Fulton. During the next two to three weeks, the department will watch the 100 electric, gas and water test meters to make sure they operate correctly. The meters are a part of a smart grid communications system that, once it's up and running, is supposed to improve data collection.

Darrell Dunlap, utilities superintendent, said the new electric meters will give the utilities department hourly readings to help with notifications and preventative maintenance. The department currently relies on phone calls from customers when there is a problem.

"With this system, we will know when your power goes out and on the other hand, we will know when it comes back on," Dunlap said.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.