Washington utility upgrades meter data management with Siemens
In the US state of Washington, Snohomish County Public Utility District (Snohomish PUD) has selected consulting firm TRC Companies to implement a meter data management system as part of the utility’s advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) programme.
TRC Companies will implement, integrate and deliver the meter data management (MDM) on the Siemens EnergyIP platform for automation of smart meter data management business processes.
The project is part of Snohomish PUD’s Connect UP programme, which is designed to prepare the utility for an AMI deployment between 2023 and 2024.
Connect UP includes upgrading substations, deploying automation devices across the distribution network and installing grid communications infrastructure and technology.
The majority of the infrastructure planned for deployment as part of Connect Up has been installed. The utility will use the remaining part of 2021 to integrate already installed infrastructure with new technologies such as the MDM and to construct a test lab for new solutions and business cases that are related to smart grids.
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Snohomish PUD is the second-largest publicly-owned utility in Washington and wants to make use of AMI to eliminate estimated energy billing, enhance customer services by reducing the occurrence and duration of outages and introduce new rate designs.
The utility says smart meters will enable the company to prepare for future business models.
In 2022, Snohomish PUD will finalise the integration of its solutions and infrastructure and the installation of an IoT network.
Rafael Da Silva Ozaki, business unit head of Digital Grid at Siemens Smart Infrastructure USA, said: “Globally, utilities have implemented our meter data management technology for more than 20 years – which has allowed them to go beyond meter-to-cash, further their digital transformation, and address sustainability challenges.”
The technology has been adopted by Scottish Power in the UK and Tata Power in India.
Snohomish PUD serves more than 360,000 electric customers and 22,000 water customers.
