Power utility City Power on Thursday said it was finalising a programme for the roll-out and installation of about 250 000 smart meters for consumers in Johannesburg over a three-year period.

The programme, of which the initial phase would focus on larger power users (LPUs), was expected to be completed in 2015. The utility's MD Sicelo Xulu told Engineering News Online that the devices would cost in the range of R5 000 and would be funded entirely by City Power.

Further, the smart meters, which are supplied by EPG in consortium with Itron, enable automated meter reading and, therefore, improved billing accuracy, as consumption is monitored in real-time. The devices detect unplanned power interruptions immediately and send off an alarm, allowing for quicker response and shorter power restoration times. The alarm system also reports tampering or illegal activities.

City Power indicated that the smart meters and related infrastructure would enable the utility to communicate with consumers through SMSs, notifying them of power interruptions, requesting them to reduce consumption or sending billing-related information.

Customers would, in turn, also be able to send SMSs to request information regarding power interruptions or consumption. LPUs such as factories, residential complexes and shopping malls would be able to view their consumption statistics in real-time on a dedicated Web portal.

Further, the smart meters also supported several other features which help to reduce electricity consumption, such as load management. The devices can shift electricity loads away from peak periods and restrict customers’ electricity use during periods of supply constraints. Customers would be able to monitor and manage their own consumption by switching specific loads on or off, based on electricity use.

“A smart metering system is a necessary precondition for the implementation of time-of-use tariffs, as the meter can be configured for different consumption periods, such as peak and off-peak. These tariffs would help shift consumption away from peak periods, when the most strain is put on the grid,” the utility stated.

City Power announced that it was considering implementing time-of-use tariffs at a later date; however, a final decision, which would be taken in consultation with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, was yet to be made.

“With accurate and real-time area-specific consumption data, City Power can make informed decisions on network strengthening, expansion and upgrading,” the utility said in a statement.