Metering.com 30 JUNE 2016
Smart grid technologies firm Smart Grid Solutions (SGS) said it completed an automated metering infrastructure (AMI) project for US power co-operative Kenergy Corporation
In a press statement, SGS said it deployed its project planning platform ProFieldMETER’s DayToute module to help the western customer-owned utility to implement its smart meters project.
The company deployed 52,000 smart meters two months ahead of schedule.
Kenergy started its smart meters deployment project in January, 2015.
Joe Kokol, Project Manager at Smart Grid Solutions, said: “Because Kenergy historically leveraged mail-in reads instead of traditional meter readers, they didn’t have established route sequences like most utilities.”
The solutions provider claims that its participation in the project helped in the management of the AMI rollout by increasing data quality, ensuring safety, and increasing productivity by up to 50%.
Kenneth Stock, vice president of operations at Kenergy Corp, added: “Completing the project ahead of schedule was a great finish to a successful smart meter deployment.”
Kenergy supplies power to more than 56,000 meters in 14 counties in the US state of Kentucky.
Smart meters deployment in the US
Even though a recent study carried out by Navigant Research highlights a decrease in AMI projects in North America, some utilities are still awaiting approval from state regulators to implement their smart meter projects. [AMI deployments in North America are declining – report].
For instance, in late April, Superior Water, Light and Power (SWL&P) filed its plans to deploy the system to improve its services for approval by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
The new meters will provide a platform for the utility to implement energy and water efficiency programmes such as Time of Use power pricing.
By putting the projects into practice, SWL&P is hoping will help consumers practice sustainable usage of power and water to reduce their bills.
The US$9.8m project will ensure quick outage restoration for electric consumers and reduced water leakages through notifications whenever a leakage or power outage is detected.
The utility serving 36,000 gas, electric and water consumers in north western Wisconsin (Minnesota) is expecting to begin its smart meter deployment by the end of this year. It plans to install 30,000 units by 2020.