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Beyond the traditional approach to meter-to-cash lies the need for utilities to closely monitor field conditions and use all information available to them to protect revenue, maximize asset utilisation, provide reliable service, and enhance and promote customer engagement.
This is according to Abraham Ortega, Senior Executive Consultant at state-of-the-art electrical equipment and solutions provider, Hexing, who comments that Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT) are driving technological changes and solutions that can meet those utility needs.
These integrated solutions allow utilities to expand service and potentially enhance economic conditions. With advanced metering structures (AMI) becoming so competitive among suppliers, widespread adoption of standards, renewables, as well as technologies such as microgrids, many areas of the country can enjoy the benefits of electricity provided in an affordable and reliable manner.
In the case of rural power grids, Ortega says that smart metering, as part of a state-of-the-art meter-to-cash solution, can bring grid stability by providing accurate tracking of household energy consumption, allowing utilities to establish reasonable electricity tariffs, ensuring that the existing infrastructure continue to meet electricity demand, and combating theft.
However, he adds that the cost of deploying advanced metering solutions in a community can become expensive. These expenses are eventually passed onto consumers through higher electricity tariffs. This is why government, communities and the private industry must work together to bring affordable and reliable state of the art technology under practical and effective financial models.
Abraham Ortega will be speaking at the 2018 African Utility Week, taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 15 - 17 May. As platinum sponsor for the event, Hexing would like to invite you to interview Mr. Abraham Ortega (Senior Executive Consultant), Mr. Ding Chunming (VP), or Miss Daisy Chen (Acting CEO) on the following topics:
