FAQs: About Home Area Networks

A Home Area Network is a network that connects various digital devices to help customers gain valuable information or manage devices to suit their needs. Home Area Network devices can be used at the home or business to help better control energy usage and costs.

There are numerous digital devices that may work with the Ameren Illinois Home Area Network enhanced service option but not all have been validated at this time.

Below are a few examples of the different types of Home Area Network devices:

• In-Home or Energy Information Displays
• Smart Thermostats
• Home Security Systems
• Smart Appliances (such as refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes dryers)

The smart meter installed at your home or business supports the ZigBee technology. If your device has ZigBee technology (Smart Energy Profile version 1.1) and is not validated by Ameren Illinois, you may still have success with connecting it with our meter.

If you have trouble connecting, please contact the manufacturer of your device for further information or instructions.

A local retail home improvement store or online retail site may stock the Home Area Network device that you are looking for.

Devices that will work with the Ameren Illinois meters will need to be ZigBee Smart Energy Profile (SEP) version 1.1 compatible (www.zigbee.org). ZigBee is a low power wireless network suitable for communications between ZigBee-enabled devices in a home or business. There are many types of ZigBee devices in the market place.

Ameren Illinois has a variety of smart meters. Most advanced meters with ZigBee technology (Smart Energy Profile version 1.1) are compatible, but there are a few exceptions. Since we do not expect you to know what type of meter is at your home or business, there are a few visual clues as well as technology differences. See the chart with question What are the Ameren Illinois advanced meters compatible with Home Area Network devices?

Meter Type	Visual Clue	Technical Clue	HAN Compatible	Residential/ Small Commercial	Large Commercial/ Industrial
Focus Advanced Meter	Yellow or green label, clear cover	Uses 2-way communications	x	x
S4X Advanced Meter	Yellow label, tinted cover	Uses 2-way communications	Temporarily not available for Home Area Network	Temporarily not available for Home Area Network	Temporarily not available for Home Area Network
Automatic Meter Reading/ Electro-magnetic Meter Reader	White label	Uses 1-way communications	Not compatible