AMI Frequent Questions
What is Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)?
Advanced Metering Infrastructure, or AMI, is a technology solution that allows two-way communication between customers’ electric and water meters and Janesville Utility Billing, distribution, and head end system. For years, Janesville Utilities (JU) had read meters via radio reads providing a single direction of information flow – from the meter to the utility. With AMI, Janesville Utilities and its customers have the ability to share information about usage in real time and, as a result, boost efficiency and conservation.
What is an Advanced Meter?
An Advanced Meter allows for two-way communication on an Advanced Metering network. The meter collects usage data in increments. JU will configure the meters to collect usage in 15-minute or hourly increments depending on the commodity.
Is Advanced Metering new Technology?
No, Advanced Metering has been around for many years around the country. Advanced Metering is already used for collecting utility readings since 2022 in Janesville.
Will Janesville Utilities be able to control anything in my home or business?
No. JU’s access stops at the meter. If, in the future, it makes sense to offer programs for certain devices in your home, they would be on a voluntary basis by each individual customer.
How does Advanced Metering benefit me?
At a high level, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) will provide you with better information to utilize your utility resources more efficiently. You will have access to more detailed information about your energy and water usage via ACE Portal, JU’s customer web portal. With Advanced Metering, JU provides a higher level of customer service; offer better electric and water reliability; and keep our operating costs low. The additional, and timelier, information available through AMI enables us to better address customer questions and issues. That same information gives JU a view of what is happening throughout the various distribution systems, thus enabling us to be more proactive and avoid outages or other system issues. Many functions that require sending crews out to the field will be performed remotely with AMI, thus saving labor, fuel and vehicle costs, in addition to being more environmentally friendly.
Below is a short list of benefits related to Advanced Metering:
Will I have access to my meter data?
Yes. You have access to more detailed information about your electric and water data via “ACE Portal,” the JU’s customer web portal – added April of 2025. This portal will enable you to make better choices about how you use your utility resources and provide ways to save along with setting up thresholds for usage.
Will I still need to call when my power is out?
Calling in an outage is optional, if everything performs as expected our crews will be notified of an outage within seconds of it occurring; however, there are circumstances it could not send. If you are part of a large outage, it is almost a certainty the crews will be notified and we will send out a notification via “Janesville Connect” but if it is just your meter that is out, it is not a guarantee. We recommend reporting outages via our Emergency Line 507-234-6265.
How much radio frequency emissions do the equipment transmit?
The advanced meter equipment transmits very small amounts of radiofrequency (RF) energy. The equipment uses wireless communications to transmit data on usage, report outages and enable connection and disconnection of service. Radio-frequency exposure levels from the equipment, even at a close range, fall substantially below the guidelines set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the general public.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure, or AMI, is a technology solution that allows two-way communication between customers’ electric and water meters and Janesville Utility Billing, distribution, and head end system. For years, Janesville Utilities (JU) had read meters via radio reads providing a single direction of information flow – from the meter to the utility. With AMI, Janesville Utilities and its customers have the ability to share information about usage in real time and, as a result, boost efficiency and conservation.
What is an Advanced Meter?
An Advanced Meter allows for two-way communication on an Advanced Metering network. The meter collects usage data in increments. JU will configure the meters to collect usage in 15-minute or hourly increments depending on the commodity.
Is Advanced Metering new Technology?
No, Advanced Metering has been around for many years around the country. Advanced Metering is already used for collecting utility readings since 2022 in Janesville.
Will Janesville Utilities be able to control anything in my home or business?
No. JU’s access stops at the meter. If, in the future, it makes sense to offer programs for certain devices in your home, they would be on a voluntary basis by each individual customer.
How does Advanced Metering benefit me?
At a high level, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) will provide you with better information to utilize your utility resources more efficiently. You will have access to more detailed information about your energy and water usage via ACE Portal, JU’s customer web portal. With Advanced Metering, JU provides a higher level of customer service; offer better electric and water reliability; and keep our operating costs low. The additional, and timelier, information available through AMI enables us to better address customer questions and issues. That same information gives JU a view of what is happening throughout the various distribution systems, thus enabling us to be more proactive and avoid outages or other system issues. Many functions that require sending crews out to the field will be performed remotely with AMI, thus saving labor, fuel and vehicle costs, in addition to being more environmentally friendly.
Below is a short list of benefits related to Advanced Metering:
- Outage Notification
- Customer Portal — usage data allowing potential for savings
- Identification of water leaks or trouble shooting excessive/zero usage
- Lower operation costs
Will I have access to my meter data?
Yes. You have access to more detailed information about your electric and water data via “ACE Portal,” the JU’s customer web portal – added April of 2025. This portal will enable you to make better choices about how you use your utility resources and provide ways to save along with setting up thresholds for usage.
Will I still need to call when my power is out?
Calling in an outage is optional, if everything performs as expected our crews will be notified of an outage within seconds of it occurring; however, there are circumstances it could not send. If you are part of a large outage, it is almost a certainty the crews will be notified and we will send out a notification via “Janesville Connect” but if it is just your meter that is out, it is not a guarantee. We recommend reporting outages via our Emergency Line 507-234-6265.
How much radio frequency emissions do the equipment transmit?
The advanced meter equipment transmits very small amounts of radiofrequency (RF) energy. The equipment uses wireless communications to transmit data on usage, report outages and enable connection and disconnection of service. Radio-frequency exposure levels from the equipment, even at a close range, fall substantially below the guidelines set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the general public.