Duke Energy Ohio officials said new technology in the works could improve response time in emergencies like last fall's windstorm — as well as improve energy efficiency for customers.

Johnna Reeder, spokeswoman for Duke, shared some of the company's plans and policies during a Rotary Club meeting at the Manchester Inn in Middletown on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

After a severe windstorm blew through Ohio in September, Duke estimates more than 572,700 customers were without power. While the company knew the damage to its system was extensive, Reeder said its current meter system could not pinpoint where specific outages occurred.

"The system is not at a place where we know when your power is out unless you call us," she said.

So one major infrastructure investment the company is working on are new SMART meters. This new system will enable the company to pinpoint exactly where an outage is and possibly reroute electricity to restore power more quickly.

The system also would allow Duke to monitor customer energy use and catalog how residents use their energy to help show them where they can be more efficient.

The new meters are part of the company's Electric Security Plan, which was approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio in December.

The company also has filed with the PUCO to begin accounting the costs associated with the windstorm, estimated at $31 million. According to the filing, the costs will be collected from its 690,000 customers in the form of a rider during the span of three years.

While Duke is a for-profit company, Reeder said in this instance the company will only collect the actual cost of getting its system back online after "the worst storm our company has seen in 100 years."

"In the scheme of things, we are trying to control costs and are taking some hits in our company as well right now," she said. "This SMART technology will improve our response and reliability as well as allow customers to improve their energy efficiency."

While the storm was devastating for businesses and residents, Middletown Chamber of Commerce President Bill Triick said the new technology is critical for customers.