Coopesantos RL completes first coop AMI deployment in Costa Rica
Image: Coopesantos RL
Los Santos Rural Electrification Cooperative (Coopesantos RL) has implemented Itron’s DI-enabled AMI solution across its 1,500km2 central western Costa Rica service territory.
The five-year project included the deployment of 50,000 smart meters and the connection of Itron’s distribution intelligence (DI) enabled platform with Coopesantos RL’s customer information system.
With this upgrade with grid edge intelligence Coopesantos RL now has visibility and control across its diverse rural service territory, which includes mountainous and hard-to-access areas.
“Being the first cooperative to deploy smart meters in Costa Rica and Central America marks a significant step toward the modernisation of the infrastructure and distribution of electrical energy in rural areas where we provide service to all homes, businesses and industries,” said Mario Patricio Solis Solis, General Manager of Coopesantos RL.
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“Our electrical distribution deployment has been strengthened with this investment in technology and devices from Itron, automating and optimising our operational processes. We’re thrilled to continue working together as we embark on creating a reliable smart grid to prepare for the future.”
The solution was delivered via local Itron channel partners Conelectricas RL and Itecna.
Benefits anticipated by Coopesantos RL include more rapid insight and response to power outages with Costa Rica prone to extreme weather events, a reduced carbon footprint with reduced need for meter reading and increased client satisfaction with detailed insight into energy use and early detection of technical irregularities such as theft.
Coopesantos RL, headquartered in the city of San Marcos de Tarrazú, is one of four electric cooperatives in Costa Rica.
The cooperative claims 100% clean energy generation from two hydro plants, the 13MW Los Santos wind farm and growing distributed solar PV, primarily from commercial users.
In addition to energy generation and supply the cooperative offers fibre Internet services.
