| Utilities across North America and Europe are making significant investments in AMI/AMR technologies to replace the labor-intensive system of manually reading meters, increase customer service quality and improve system reliability. In the U.S. alone, electric, gas and water utilities have an installed base of more than 27 million remote-read meters and have announced plans to install another 30 million in the coming decade. In addition, other utilities are considering their options related to AMI/AMR as the technology improves, costs decline and the need to offer expanded options increases. With more than 130 million electric, gas and water meters in the U.S., this trend adds to the total number of installed units to replace and underscores the challenges of completely deploying the technology across the country. Because of the breadth of the implications, the transition to AMI/AMR can be among the most significant investment that utilities will make over the next decade. AMI/AMR will affect everything from system operations to utility management and customer satisfaction – regardless of utility size – and the reasons to consider the transition now are many. R. W. Beck is currently supporting a number of utilities as they transition to AMI/AMR systems – a move that involves a series of complex decisions driven by considerations beyond traditional cost/benefit analysis and straight cost savings. We deliver a blend of business and technical foresight that helps our clients better understand the widespread ramifications of integrating AMI/AMR in their overall distribution strategy. And, by dispensing forthright, impartial advice, we help our clients make these far-reaching decisions with confidence.
Contact:
Tim Corrigan
Executive Vice President, Energy
PH 303.299.5328
email |