Energy Dept. says nationwide ‘smart meter’ army hits 2 million

The Energy Department said Tuesday more than 2 million "smart" electric meters have been installed nationwide, sped along by funding in the big 2009 stimulus law.

The devices help consumers and businesses track and control power consumption and, hence, costs.

Lots of them (more than 180,000) are in Ohio, where they’re being distributed through a partnership between DOE and utility giant American Electric Power.

"As a result of an unprecedented investment from the Recovery Act, smart meters are being installed in Ohio and across the country to create a more reliable, modern electrical grid and give consumers the ability to monitor and control their energy use," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a prepared statement.

DOE cited an analysis by the Electric Power Research Institute — a utility industry group — that found various “smart grid” technologies could trim power use by more than 4 percent annually by 2030. 

“That would mean a savings of $20.4 billion for businesses and consumers around the country each year and more than $700 million for Ohio alone — or $61 in annual utility savings for every man, woman and child in Ohio,” according to DOE.