The Computer Club of Oklahoma City will have a program on Smart Electric  Meters presented by a representative from OG&E. OG&E is investing in a new technology to help customers more efficiently manage energy use and costs to fit their lifestyles.  It also helps OG&E offer even more reliable service in a cost effective manner and to maintain reasonable rates.

OG&E calls this thier Positive Energy® Smart Grid program.

It uses a secure wireless network for two-way, real-time communication with smart meters installed on the outside of customer homes and, communicating programmable thermostats and touch-screen information panels inside customers’ homes. Information also will be made available to customers on a secure Internet portal.

While they believe smart grid technology is the foundation for the future for thier industry, they are carefully identifying how it can best benefit thier customers and thier company. 

The first step was a study begun in the summer of 2008, involving 6,600 smart meters installed in northwest Oklahoma City.  OG&E was able to remotely read customers’ meters, connect and disconnect service and know immediately if a customer has experienced a power outage.  About 25 of those customers also received touch-screen information panels and communicating programmable thermostats, allowing customers to see what electricity is costing each hour of the day so they can make informed decisions about their electricity use.

OG&E’s next step in 2010 is installation of 42,000 smart meters on customer homes in Norman, Oklahoma, and the installation of the information delivery infrastructure to carry the information to and from the customers and OG&E.  An estimated 3,000 Norman customers will be asked to participate in a study in the summer of 2010 and 2011 using the in-home devices and/or Internet portals as a means to get electricity pricing and usage information. 

More information about the OG&E customers and employees involved in the Oklahoma City smart grid study can be viewed at General Electric’s Website at www.itsyoursmartgrid.com.

Door prizes will include: for visitors one free membership to the club or a $20.00 gift card to Best Buy and for members two $40.00 gift cards from Best Buy.

THE FOLLOWING IS VERY IMPORTANT: In fairness to all, no one will be allowed to register for the drawing after 7:05 pm. You MUST have a current Computer Club of Oklahoma City badge with you to enter the members' prize drawing. If you forget your badge, you have lost it, or it has expired, you will not be eligible to fill out a prize drawing slip. If you need a new badge, or need to renew your membership to the Club, please see or email our Membership Chairman, Jack Milner, at least 24 hours before the General Meeting. No new or replacement badges will be printed the night of the meeting. Jack's email address is members@ccokc.org, and the phone number for the Club's Resource Center is 405-843-4300 (leave a message if there is no answer). This is a firm rule for all meetings, so please be sure you bring your badge with you each month. You are welcome to stay for the presentation without your badge, but you will not be allowed to participate in the drawing, no matter how long you've been a member of the Club. You can, of course, purchase a membership in the Club that evening, but will not be eligible for the members' drawing until the following month.

Click Here to Join the Computer Club of OKC. See the Membership form on the Website

What is a Study Group

     The Computer Club of OKC offers many different Study Groups. They are groups of 10-50 people who meet monthly to learn about a particular subject. The format is part presentation and part facilitated discussion. A STUDY GROUP, once called a Special Interest Group, is an informal group within ccOKC whose participants share a common interest.

As such, a STUDY GROUP is the place to ASK QUESTIONS, LEARN and GET HELP about the subject of that study group through the questions asked by all and the demonstrations by the Study Group leader.  All Study Groups are FREE and ALL ARE INVITED!

     Come to a Study Group in our Resource Center at 3000 United Founders Blvd.!

We are located at the east end of the Center 3000 Building in Suite 201, so use Entrance One on the east side of the building.

We are a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization of around 1200 members, with the goal of teaching each other more about using and enjoying their personal computers for business and pleasure. The sole purpose of the organization is reflected in its motto, "Computer Users Helping Computer Users."

ccOKC members
aboard the Norwegian Sky for the FACUG Conference
Miami Beach/Nassua