Del. PSC approves smart meters DOVER, DE (wesm) - (AP) The Delaware Public Service Commission has approved a Delmarva Power plan to install "smart" meters to reduce customers' energy use.

Tuesday's approval means the meters will be installed at the company's more than 300,000 gas and electric customers.

Installation could be done as early as next fall.

The meters allow two-way communication between the utility and its customers. They will be able to track energy use throughout the day.

The meters are an important part of the "smart" grid, which will eventually be able to detect outages at a customer's home remotely. It will also reduce the need for estimated bills.

--- Information from: The (Salisbury, Md.) Daily Times, http://www.delmarvanow.com/ © Copyright 2009, wesm