Itron Inc. announced today an agreement with the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) for the deployment of 100,000 Itron electric Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) devices and a mobile collector system.
The total contract, valued at more than $8 million (US), represents an investment in meter data collection technology that will significantly improve BEC’s ability to accurately collect, measure and monitor energy use. Itron’s AMR system will enable BEC to significantly improve its field service operations and provide better customer service to New Providence Island and the Family Islands.
“Our investment in Itron’s AMR technology benefits our customers tremendously, allowing us to provide more accurate, faster, regular and reliable readings,” said Al Jarrett, BEC Executive Chairman. “It also increases our revenue for future investments as the technology advances.”
“When Itron’s AMR technology is fully deployed, we anticipate improved billing efficiencies of more than 50 percent and additional revenues as high as $15 million,” added Jarrett. “The savings will be passed on to BEC customers and reinvested in new technology.”
Steve Helmbrecht, Vice President of Itron, International, said BEC will be the first utility in the Caribbean Basin to fully deploy AMR technology across its service territory.
“This agreement reflects BEC’s commitment to the use of advanced metering technology to optimize the delivery and use of energy,” said Helmbrecht. “Utilities across the Caribbean Basin are seeing the value of implementing meter reading technology to improve customer service, energy distribution and workforce management.”
“We’re finding that when utilities choose to invest in new meter data collection systems, they select the most advanced technology available. As a result, they are creating world-class utility companies with the ability to integrate and optimize a wide range of business operations.”
BEC gains improved efficiency from deploying a mobile AMR system and investing in the island’s infrastructure and services. This complements a national initiative in the Bahamas to effectively drive for new business and tourism growth.
“BEC’s goal is to position the Bahamas on the leading edge with the most competitive service,” said Jarrett. “By aligning with Itron, we can take advantage of latest technologies as they are developed.”
About Itron
Based in Spokane, Wash., Itron is a leading technology provider and critical source of knowledge to the global energy and water industries. Almost 3,000 utilities worldwide rely on Itron technology to deliver the knowledge they require to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water. Itron delivers value to its clients by providing industry-leading solutions for meter data collection, energy information management, demand side management and response, load forecasting, analysis and consulting services, transmission and distribution system design and optimization, web-based workforce automation, C&I customer care and residential energy management. To know more, start here: www.itron.com.
About Bahamas Electricity Corporation
Established as a public corporation in 1956, the Bahamas Electricity Corporation today is one of the leading corporations in the Bahamas, with assets of more than $600 million. Based in Nassau, BEC generates and provides electricity to islands across the Bahamian archipelago, excluding Grand Bahama and Inagua. BEC operates generating plants on New Providence as well as the other Islands.
Source: ITRON
