Equipment FAQs
Do I own my electric meter?
BVU Authority owns your electric meter and is responsible for the electric service line from the pole to your home or business. However, the metal weatherhead or riser pole attached to the service line is your responsibility. If the weatherhead is damaged (such as during a thunderstorm), a licensed electrician must repair it before BVU Authority can reattach the service line. Learn more about customer responsibilities for service.
When should I call an electrician?
- Your circuit breaker or fusebox is damaged
- You have wiring damage inside your home
- You see standing water near wires or appliances. Stay away from the water!
- You have overhead service, and
- The weatherhead (the point at which BVU Authority’s line from the pole attaches to your home or business) is damaged, or,
- There is damage to the vertical pipe (conduit) that encloses the BVU Authority line between the weatherhead and the meter.
Why do customers call an electrician instead of BVU Authority?
When the power goes out, your problem may be with the building's electrical system, especially if only part of the electricity is out in the building. Be sure to check and reset your circuit breaker or fuses.
When is BVU Authority responsible for the repair?
- There are downed poles and wires.
- The electric meter is damaged.
- The wires that go from the transformer to the weatherhead are damaged.
What is a smart meter?
A smart meter is a digital meter that records energy consumption and communicates the information to the utility for billing. Smart meters are used in more than 71 million homes and businesses throughout the United States and are essential to a modern power grid.
Some meters communicate by sending encrypted electricity usage data via radio frequency (RF) signals. This technology is standard. Many everyday products use RF communication, including cell phones, laptop computers, microwave ovens, and baby monitors. But unlike cell phones, computers, and baby monitors, smart meters use RF communication only when sending usage data, transmitting in short bursts.
What are the benefits of having smart meters?
Intelligent meters are consistent with EPUD’s mission to provide reliable power while keeping service costs affordable. Here are a few of the benefits smart meters offer that we think you’ll like:
- Outage Notifications. With smart meters, BVU Authority is notified if your power goes out – a feature that was impossible with our previous non-AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) meters. The outage alerts made possible by smart meters shorten our response times and help us to restore your power faster.
- Account Flexibility. Smart meters provide more choice and convenience. As new systems are developed, we’ll be able to offer more flexibility in how and when you pay your bills, allowing you to tailor your account to fit your budget and lifestyle.
- Customer Account Tools. Reliable access to your daily and seasonal electricity usage makes it easy to identify ways to save.
How are smart meters different?
Smart meters offer significant customer benefits that the last meters didn’t. Take a look at the chart below to see how they compare:
- Energy Usage. The new meters report usage frequently and reliably, allowing most customers to view their hourly use online.
- Outage Notifications. BVU Authority's previous non-AMI meters could not send outage alerts. The new meters notify staff automatically and instantly when the power goes out, ensuring crews are dispatched quickly without waiting for customers to report the outage.
How often do smart meters transmit data?
Most residential meters transmit data once hourly. The total transmission time or “time on” per 24-hour period typically ranges from 1.2 seconds to two minutes.
Tree-Trimming FAQs
Why is it necessary to trim my trees?
Many trees have grown up into or were planted too close to power lines. Outages and safety hazards can occur when trees are too near overhead conductors. Service interruptions caused by trees are severe and may affect many customers and cause damage to the electrical infrastructure.
Do I have to give permission to trim my trees?
Your permission is not required because safety codes mandate that we maintain clearance and keep the power lines safe and hazard-free.
BVU Authority is legally required to maintain its facilities. Utility franchises, easements, and rights of ways are often conveyed in the deed to a property. In addition, as a condition of electric service to your home, you must allow the BVU Authority access for maintenance.
How far from the power lines will my trees be trimmed?
Many factors help determine the distance from the lines your trees will be trimmed. They include:
- The growth rate of tree species
- The voltage level of the power line
- Current distance of line to the tree (The minimum distance for most distribution voltage within the BVU Authority system is 8-10’ tree-to-conductor clearance. Your specific location may vary.)
How will my trees be trimmed?
BVU Authority takes care of trimming trees in our service area but heavily prioritizes the permanent removal of trees to avoid an unnecessary maintenance cycle. BVU Authority crews or professional contractors will trim trees according to American National Standards Institute A300 (ANSI) Pruning Standards. This trimming technique uses natural lateral or directional pruning methods, which direct the growth of the tree away from overhead conductors. This allows the tree to retain much of its natural form while requiring less trimming in the future.
Is this a free service, or do I pay for tree trimming?
BVU Authority does not directly charge customers for standard services. Customer requests for additional services will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may result in the customer assuming financial responsibility. We provide the tree trimming service to ensure that power is delivered safely, more reliably, and at the least possible cost to our customers.
What if I want my tree removed instead of just trimmed?
BVU Authority will remove trees that are interfering with overhead conductors or ground transformers. Since many factors will determine whether or not a tree qualifies for removal, a BVU Authority representative will make a site-specific determination.
How can I avoid having my trees trimmed because of power lines?
The best way to avoid conflicts is to never plant trees underneath or near power lines. If you choose to plant trees near power lines, select trees with slow growth rates and a lower mature height and spread that will not interfere with nearby power lines. BVU has a responsibility to protect its employees and infrastructure; these will be prioritized over the tree.
Can I request trimming if my trees are too close to power lines?
If you feel your trees are too close to power lines, contact BVU Authority, and we will inspect the site to determine if the trees should be trimmed immediately or when periodic maintenance is scheduled for your area.
Can I trim my trees around power lines?
No. Serious injury or death can result when untrained homeowners attempt to trim trees around power lines. Only BVU Authority is allowed to cut trees interfering with the power lines.
