MARQUETTE — Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) is announcing the launch of UPPCO Smart Energy, an advanced metering solution that improves reliability and delivers enhanced customer service.

UPPCO’s new metering solution utilizes new infrastructure, technology and smart meters to modernize the power grid. The primary benefit of this new system is the ability to read and control the customer’s meter remotely. This allows for quick and accurate meter reads and the ability to start and stop service without having to send a truck to the customer’s premises.

“UPPCO currently reads its meters on a bimonthly basis and estimates usage on the off-months,” according to Brett French, UPPCO’s vice president of business development and communications. “By implementing the advanced metering solution, we will be able to read meters every month, greatly reducing our reliance on estimated values.”

Smart meters also record critical information during a power outage and send a signal to UPPCO’s System Operation Center in Ishpeming, whenever an outage is detected. This will allow for quicker detection and restoration of service.

Additional information is available at www.uppco.com/smartenergy.