Release of 29.01.2014
- All 3,700 customers in Ybbs an der Donau (Lower Austria) will be equipped with smart meters
- Telekom Austria Group M2M will be mainly responsible for meter connectivity and meter data management, data transfer as well as the overall project management
- The rollout complies with all the relevant legal requirements of both the European Union and the Austrian energy regulatory authority E-Control
- Smart meters with the highest security standards will make electricity usage more transparent for end-consumers
Telekom Austria Group M2M and Wüster power station today announced the launch of a joint project for the introduction of a comprehensive smart metering solution to track energy consumption in the city of Ybbs an der Donau (Lower Austria). This project marks the first smart meter rollout across a utility's entire supply area (encompassing a total of 3,700 customers) in Austria.
"We are delighted to have accomplished Austria's first truly comprehensive smart meter rollout in Ybbs an der Donau. Our project management encompasses all relevant operating steps for the introduction of a smart metering system, ranging from the provision of smart metering equipment to data transmission. In a joint effort with our partners, we are currently implementing this leading-edge energy supply technology," explained Bernd Liebscher, Managing Director of Telekom Austria Group M2M GmbH.
The introduction of a smart metering solution will not lead to additional costs for Wüster power station's end-customers, as it will be based on the cost-effective usage of the existing infrastructure. The installation of smart meters in the single households will probably take place between March and September 2014 and will be carried out by Wüster power station.
Telekom Austria Group and Wüster Power Station Will Jointly Manage the Comprehensive Transition Process to Smart Meters
The Telekom Austria Group will be responsible for the entire project management related to the deployment of the new smart metering system and will implement it as part of the cooperation with Wüster Power Station. This encompasses, among other things, the provision of smart metering equipment, data transmission as well as the connection of the smart meters to the billing software of the utility company.
The Telekom Austria Group will deploy its "SMARTify" software platform for remote meter reading, smart metering and meter data management. This SaaS (software as a service) solution was specially designed to meet the demands of the Austrian market, is particularly cost effective and complies with all relevant legal requirements. Besides, the Telekom Austria Group will be responsible for the IT infrastructure, the software and the maintenance work. Thus, the platform will be used as a service, reducing investments, minimizing risks, while achieving economies of scale.
"As a traditional family-run business, with this project, we are leading the way into the future of energy supply. We are among the first electric utility providers in Austria to switch to this cutting-edge smart metering technology. For the implementation of this project, we have chosen Telekom Austria Group M2M, as it is a reliable partner in the area of data security, project management and metering infrastructure. Therefore, the city of Ybbs an der Donau is set to become a flagship project in the field of energy efficiency," said Peter Wüster, Managing Director of Wüster power station.
Smart Metering With the Highest Security Standards
Smart meters enable remote meter reading, allowing customers to keep track of their energy consumption, while eliminating the need for meter readers to visit the customer premises or for self-read customers to submit their readings.
In the city of Ybbs an der Donau, customers will have the possibility to easily access and clearly track their energy consumption using an encrypted web portal. Upon request, energy consumption data will be made available on a daily or quarter-hourly basis, allowing customers to easily monitor and control their energy usage patterns. Therefore, electricity back payments will become a thing of the past.
For the safe transmission of energy consumption data, the Telekom Austria Group operates high-security data centers, which are extensively available across the country and are based on an integrated IT security concept. The company is ISO 27001 certified and has a longstanding record of providing successful customer support in highly sensitive areas such as financial services and the health sector with hosting, housing and IT services.
The new smart meters have been made available by the Danish manufacturer Kamstrup under the brand name "Omnipower". The company has extensive hands-on experience as a smart meter vendor. The equipment meets all technical requirements and complies with the Austrian calibration standards. Compared to the devices of rival companies, Kamstrup's smart meters ensure considerably lower energy consumption levels and therefore bring significant energy savings. The company has already distributed several million smart meters across Europe.
The Wüster Power Station: A Traditional Family-Run Business with Innovative Strength
The Wüster power station has supplied electric power to the City of Ybbs and its surrounding area since 1898.
The Wüster power station has earned an excellent reputation and played a pioneering role both in the area of electric power generation and distribution: the company was among the first electric utility providers to build a three-phase power plant in Austria on the basis of hydropower and has a proven track record in the public power supply sector.
At present, the Wüster power station supplies roughly 3,700 customers (including private households, commercial businesses, agricultural, industry and municipal facilities) with renewable energy. In addition to guaranteeing high-quality power supply for the City of Ybbs and its surrounding area, Wüster power station's main scope of activity also includes electric grid construction and maintenance, metering and tariff system management, emergency services and customer-friendly electricity billing.