The Antigua Public Utilities Authority is preparing to invest US$25 million in an automated metering system designed to improve billing accuracy, allow customers to monitor their consumption and reduce the need for workers to visit properties to read meters.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Roger Tong said APUA has started ordering automated water meters and is working to secure funding for electricity meters. The authority has conducted pilot projects and intends to expand the system over the coming months.

Under the automated metering infrastructure system, commonly called AMI, readings would be transmitted directly to a central server and used to generate customers’ bills.

“With a fully functional AMI system, meter readers will not be required to go out and read your meters,” Tong said. “The readings will be sent automatically to a central server, and from there the bills will be generated.”

Electricity Business Unit Manager Andre Mathias described the system as a “game changer” for both APUA and its customers.

Mathias said electricity customers would be able to review their consumption by the hour, helping them determine when and how their usage increased. Water customers would also receive more regular information about their consumption.

“You will be able to see at what time of the day you have increased your consumption,” Mathias said.

The technology would also allow APUA to monitor voltage levels, detect meter tampering and identify areas affected by power outages. Mathias said the authority would receive a signal if someone interfered with a meter.

APUA would also be able to disconnect and reconnect services remotely, although Mathias said customers would be contacted before any action was taken.

“We wouldn’t be so irresponsible to disconnect and reconnect without advising the customer,” he said.

Tong said the automated system should reduce errors caused by faulty mechanical meters, incorrect manual entries and delays between readings. It would also eliminate problems created when meter readers cannot access properties because of locked gates, dogs, overgrown vegetation or other obstructions.

APUA has acknowledged that some customers receive bills covering longer-than-normal periods when readings are delayed. Tong said the authority tries to correct that problem by completing the following reading on time, resulting in a shorter billing period and a lower subsequent bill.

He said APUA also intends to notify the public when readings are delayed and explain the reasons.

Mathias said APUA hopes to begin a large-scale deployment of the automated meters later this year or early next year.

Tong said the price of the system reflects the scale of the proposed upgrade.

“It’s a US$25 million project,” he said. “So it’s a serious investment.”

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: APUA Plans US$25 Million Smart Metering System.