Horizon Power: Deploying Advanced Prepayment Solution for Remote Communities
Technology Category
- Networks & Connectivity - NFC
- Sensors - Utility Meters
Applicable Industries
- Electrical Grids
- Telecommunications
Applicable Functions
- Sales & Marketing
Use Cases
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
- Water Utility Management
Services
- Hardware Design & Engineering Services
The Challenge
Horizon Power had been using traditional card-based prepayment meters to assist customers in remote communities to manage their electricity costs and avoid accumulating debts. The solution worked well until the prepayment meters that had been installed stopped being manufactured. Horizon Power also had to respond to a revised regulatory code of conduct for the supply of electricity to residential customers, which made significant changes to the provision of prepayment.
The Customer
Horizon Power
About The Customer
Horizon Power is a vertically integrated government-owned utility serving 100,000 residents and 10,000 businesses in regional and remote parts of Western Australia. They have 47,000 customer connections spread across a vast service territory.
The Solution
Horizon Power chose Itron for the wireless communications network that would provide connectivity between the meters and the back office. They also chose SmartGridCIS to deploy alongside Horizon’s existing CIS in order to provide all the functionality needed to manage the prepayment customers’ accounts. Horizon Power enabled prepayment customers to check balances from the display on the meter and register their mobile phone number to receive SMS texts for low credit warnings. They also worked with Landis+Gyr to develop new meter firmware to provide the required prepayment functionality.
Quantitative Benefit
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