Ericsson provides Advanced Metering Management for utility companies, the solution provides revenue protection and a cutting-edge service offering, as well as opening the way to smart grid applications. Ericsson’s Managed Services facilitates the whole solution, providing Acea with significantly reduced opex.
The full suite of solution consists of the following modules.
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure Strategic Planning – Planning the deployment of all aspects and elements of Smart Metering systems.
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure Security – Protecting Smart Meter infrastructure from cyber attack.
- Revenue Management Design & Build – Monitoring the Grid to identify “non-technical losses” (energy theft).
- Meter Data Management Design & Build – Collecting, storing and analyzing data collected from Smart Meters.
- Metering Management Platform Design & Build – Deploying and integrating the head-end IT systems used to run multi-vendor meter networks.
- Meter & Data Platform Operations – Operating the head-end IT systems used to run multi-vendor meter networks.
For many utilities the introduction of Smart Meters is mandated by the National Energy Regulator.
The benefits of such having such regulation enforced is to allow for better management of environmental impacts and to liberalizes the market, ensuring competitive pricing for residential customers. The new measures include the rollout of smart meters for residential electricity consumers. In other words, this is a channel to regulate the industry as is what is happening in western countries like US and Europe.
As a solid brand in industry specific solutions Ericsson offered reliability and security of investment along with international capability. The knowledge gained from the liberalization of the telecommunications market provided valuable transferable skills. Jens Erler, Business Development Manager, Ericsson elaborates: “Telecommunications competence, brand recognition and the ability to handle complex projects were important factors in Ericsson’s selection. But also the liberalization of the utilities market has many parallels to that of the telecommunications market. Both industries have huge infrastructure assets – every household is a potential customer. The challenges they face are similar, and utilities companies are starting to outsource network and system operations as telecommunications companies did, to capitalize on the opex benefits it brings.”
The solution offers savings through increased operational knowledge and elimination of manual meter reading, as well as revenue protection due to fraud detection, better management of payment problems and more accurate and timely billing. In addition, enhanced customer satisfaction is achieved through improved quality of service; invoicing based on actual usage; detailed communication and metering information; and expanded tariff and payment options.
The data center is already fully operational and the rollout of smart meters is well underway, with 1 million meters already having been installed at a rate of 2 000 a day. All 1.6 million meters will have been fitted by Q3 2009. Being such a large project and with more governments expected to follow suit, Acea is under close scrutiny, with many companies visiting to observe both its technology choice and why it selected Ericsson as its technology partner. Massimiliano Salvi shares his thoughts on the future of the agreement: “Ericsson is a strong and committed local and global partner. Our current Managed Services deal is going from strength to strength, and I envisage a long and prosperous relationship between our organizations.”
