In this multi-part series we’ll explore problems with Central Maine Power’s Usage Alert and Energy Manager systems. Enjoy!
Central Maine Power customers with smart meters are able to utilize a CMP provided service called Usage Alerts. 
This free service is usually described in the monthly CMP Customer Guide newsletter which comes with your bill or online if you have CMP’s online eBill service. Here’s the applicable snippet from the June 2020 Customer Guide. I’ve overlaid a few numbered bubbles so we can jump right into the section “Understand your usage – Try Usage Alerts.”
But first, let’s check out the included picture. Go study it for a few seconds and come back when you’re done.
Great.
Can’t you just imagine that the kids are outside socially distance playing? Tom, the upbeat husband, standing by the patio door, says “Hey Heidi, would you like to go outside and play a dozen games of horseshoes?” Heidi, the pretty wife, says “Ah, naaah, I don’t have my shoes on. Besides, I’m quite relaxed on the sofa honey. I thought I would just mellow down a bit and check out the latest CMP Usage Update Alerts while I sip on a glass of ginger-carrot juice.” Tom replies “Shazam, I understand so rightly. Thank you for being such a great wife, and mom to our 2.3 children. And, I’m feeling ever so chipper since I read the CMP Usage Update Alerts this morning myself.” That’s right, use that imagination. It can happen.
Right, or maybe not. So let’s just get back to those bubble items, shall we?
Ok, so bubble number 1. “If you don’t like surprises, sign up for Usage Alerts!” I don’t like surprises when it involves math, and I have a smart meter, so I signed up. I get a weekly e-mail and text message that tells me how much energy I’ve used since the start of the current billing cycle and the approximate cost at that point. It’ll also show a daily average for that same period, but what can I say, it’s just an average.
Bubble number 2. Seems this person signed up for Usage Alerts a long time ago to check their home and their camp. I don’t have a camp, but I signed up anyway. I don’t even have a garage, but that’s probably not important.
And, finally bubble number 3. This is a list of the four areas which can be used to trigger an alert: One, a weekly message with usage, cost, and average information. Two, an amount exceeded message. You can put in an amount like 1500Kw, and you’ll get a message only if you exceed that amount in the current billing cycle. Three, if your usage changes by 50% higher or 75% lower for three consecutive days as compared to your past 30-day average, then you get a message alert. And four, simply text USAGE to the number cited, and you get a Usage Alert reply with usage, cost, and average information.
Well that about sums it up from my end.
It does?
Well, no. This is part one. In part two, we’ll explore what it doesn’t sum up. But as homework, here is what we’ll start out with next time. It’s a real sample of what you get for a Usage Alert e-mail. In fact it’s mine. We’ll discuss it next time.
(Note: Click here to go to Part 2 of this Series.)