smart metering

In 2013, approximately 15 per cent of Mexico's electricity production was lost due to theft or defaults, and in some areas of Mexico City, that increases to more than 35 per cent, that’s according to Mexico's Comisión Federal de Electricidad’s (CFE), the largest utility in the Americas. To reduce theft and stem its losses the CFE under the Megacable and Hola Innovacion consortium is working in partnership with Silver Spring Networks and Mexico's Tecnologías EOS to implement a number of smart grid solutions in Mexico City’s Central District.

Silver Spring Networks has been selected for an advanced metering program by Horizon Power in Western Australia most sparsely populated region covering approximately 2.3 million square kilometers (approximately 888,000 square miles).  Horizon power, a government owned entity would like to provide the area's 47,000 customers with a pre-payment energy solution.

Utilities wanting to setup their own Automatic Meter Reading solution (AMR) can save themselves he cost, time and hassle it will take.  eMeter a Siemens subsidiary has launched a cloud base subscription service through their energy platform for this same purpose.  The manage service is ideal for small to mid-size utilities wanting a platform that will support the flexibility of the modern grid.

GE’s latest Smart Metering Operations Suite (SMOS) has achieved the Oracle Exadata Optimized status through the Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) programme. The application was tested on Oracle’s high performance Exadata Database Machines, which offer the latest in data processing and server technology. The OPN has proven that SMOS has been tested and tuned to deliver speed, scalability and reliability in some of the most demanding environment.

Paradox and NEC Europe further tighten their partnership by signing a reseller agreement for Paradox Engineering’s PE.AMI Smart City solution.  To support utilities upgrading their grid infrastructure NEC will offer the PE.AMI along with NEC’s Information and Communication technologies and energy solutions.  As part of the agreement both companies will work together on joint promotion activities, trade shows, end user and customers’ seminars.

Danish energy management company NorthQ today launches the world’s first battery-powered Wi-Fi Power & Gas Reader.  According to NorthQ, Wi-Fi Power & Gas Reader is easily installed on existing home’s mechanical and electronic power or gas meters. It allows you to get some of the benefits of having a smart meter, such as allowing data collected to be transferred and viewed on the NorthQ Portal every 15 minutes.

Illinois base ComEd is to invest US$2.6 Billion over the next 10 years upgrading its electrical grid infrastructure across the Chicago area.  Part of the project is to install 4 million smart meters into homes and business, for this they have selected GE on a $200 million contract.  The whole project is scheduled to start this year and run until 2021 and will modernise ComEd grid facilities and while creating jobs for locals.

C3 Energy today releases three new smart grid analytics applications (C3 Asset and System Risk, C3 Customer Reliability and Safety, and C3 Grid Investment Planning) for the utility sector.  C3 also announced C3 AMI Operations, an application that enabling utilities to track the deployment status and operation of AMI meters.

At this year's Metering, Billing/CRM Asia 2013 Mitsubishi Electric announced plans to grow its smart meters business globally in collaboration with Echelon. Mitsubishi said they will integrate Echelon's Open Smart Grid Protocol (OSGP) into its new line of smart meter products, which are designed for the global market.

National Grid is to increase its smart meter roll-out in the Worcester, Massachusetts from 5,000 to 15,000. National Grid said they will start deploying the additional 10000 meter early this year.  To support the project they have assembled some of the biggest names in smart meter and smart grid sector to implement the latest technology solutions. National Grid said the smart grid pilot will evaluate the integration of home automation, dynamic pricing and distribution automation.