LUMA announces contract to launch next phase of their Smart Meter Initiative
LUMA has announced a contract with Itron to deploy approximately 1.5 million smart meters across Puerto Rico, marking a significant milestone in grid modernization. The initiative will not result in customer rate increases and will create over 150 local jobs. Itron's smart grid platform includes advanced meters and a new communications network with redundancy, featuring distributed intelligence capabilities.
The platform offers benefits including improved customer control over energy consumption, faster service restoration, better renewables integration, and enhanced grid monitoring. Installation will begin in San Juan and expand island-wide over three years. The technology includes a 15-year warranty and will integrate with LUMA's existing infrastructure.
LUMA ha annunciato un contratto con Itron per distribuire circa 1,5 milioni di contatori intelligenti in Porto Rico, segnando un traguardo significativo nella modernizzazione della rete. L'iniziativa non comporterà un aumento delle tariffe per i clienti e creerà oltre 150 posti di lavoro locali. La piattaforma smart grid di Itron include contatori avanzati e una nuova rete di comunicazione con ridondanza, caratterizzata da capacità di intelligenza distribuita.
La piattaforma offre vantaggi come un miglior controllo dei clienti sul consumo energetico, un ripristino del servizio più rapido, una migliore integrazione delle energie rinnovabili e un monitoraggio potenziato della rete. L'installazione avrà inizio a San Juan e si espanderà sull'intera isola nel corso di tre anni. La tecnologia include una garanzia di 15 anni e si integrerà con l'infrastruttura esistente di LUMA.
LUMA ha anunciado un contrato con Itron para desplegar aproximadamente 1,5 millones de medidores inteligentes en Puerto Rico, marcando un hito significativo en la modernización de la red. La iniciativa no resultará en aumentos de tarifas para los clientes y creará más de 150 empleos locales. La plataforma de red inteligente de Itron incluye medidores avanzados y una nueva red de comunicación con redundancia, que presenta capacidades de inteligencia distribuida.
La plataforma ofrece beneficios como un mejor control del cliente sobre el consumo de energía, una restauración del servicio más rápida, una mejor integración de energías renovables y un monitoreo mejorado de la red. La instalación comenzará en San Juan y se expandirá por toda la isla durante tres años. La tecnología incluye una garantía de 15 años y se integrará con la infraestructura existente de LUMA.
LUMA는 Itron과 계약을 체결하여 푸에르토리코 전역에 약 150만 개의 스마트 미터를 배포한다고 발표했습니다. 이는 전력망 현대화의 중요한 이정표입니다. 이탈리에는 고객 요금 인상이 없으며, 150개 이상의 지역 일자리를 창출하게 됩니다. Itron의 스마트 그리드 플랫폼은 고급 미터와 중복성을 갖춘 새로운 통신 네트워크를 포함하고 있으며, 분산형 지능 기능이 특징입니다.
플랫폼은 고객의 에너지 소비에 대한 통제력 향상, 서비스 복구 속도 증가, 재생 가능 에너지 통합 개선 및 전력망 모니터링 강화와 같은 혜택을 제공합니다. 설치 작업은 산후안에서 시작되며 3년에 걸쳐 섬 전역으로 확장됩니다. 이 기술은 15년 보증이 포함되어 있으며 LUMA의 기존 인프라와 통합됩니다.
LUMA a annoncé un contrat avec Itron pour déployer environ 1,5 million de compteurs intelligents à Porto Rico, marquant une étape significative dans la modernisation du réseau. L'initiative n'entraînera pas d'augmentation des tarifs pour les clients et créera plus de 150 emplois locaux. La plateforme de réseau intelligent d'Itron comprend des compteurs avancés et un nouveau réseau de communication avec redondance, offrant des capacités d'intelligence distribuée.
La plateforme offre des avantages tels qu'un meilleur contrôle des clients sur leur consommation énergétique, une restauration des services plus rapide, une meilleure intégration des énergies renouvelables et un monitoring amélioré du réseau. L'installation commencera à San Juan et s'étendra sur toute l'île sur une période de trois ans. La technologie comprend une garantie de 15 ans et s'intégrera à l'infrastructure existante de LUMA.
LUMA hat einen Vertrag mit Itron angekündigt, um ungefähr 1,5 Millionen intelligente Zähler in Puerto Rico einzuführen, was einen bedeutenden Meilenstein in der Modernisierung des Stromnetzes darstellt. Die Initiative wird keine Erhöhung der Tarife für die Kunden zur Folge haben und über 150 lokale Arbeitsplätze schaffen. Die Smart-Grid-Plattform von Itron umfasst fortschrittliche Zähler und ein neues Kommunikationsnetz mit Redundanz, das über verteilte Intelligenz verfügt.
Die Plattform bietet Vorteile wie eine verbesserte Kontrolle der Kunden über ihren Energieverbrauch, schnellere Wiederherstellung von Dienstleistungen, bessere Integration erneuerbarer Energien und ein verbessertes Monitoring des Stromnetzes. Die Installation beginnt in San Juan und wird sich über drei Jahre auf der gesamten Insel ausdehnen. Die Technologie beinhaltet eine 15-jährige Garantie und wird in die bestehende Infrastruktur von LUMA integriert.
- Creation of 150+ direct and indirect local jobs
- No rate increases for customers
- Implementation of advanced grid monitoring capabilities
- 15-year warranty on technology
- Enhanced ability to detect and respond to outages
- Improved integration of renewable energy sources
- Three-year implementation timeline indicates delayed full benefits realization
Insights
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Itron's distributed intelligence platform represents cutting-edge smart grid technology, offering capabilities beyond basic metering. The system's ability to support distributed energy resources (DER) integration, including solar, storage and EV charging, positions it for future grid demands. The redundant communications network architecture demonstrates technical sophistication important for resilience against Puerto Rico's extreme weather challenges. The 15-year warranty commitment indicates high confidence in the technology's reliability. This implementation will serve as a significant reference case for similar grid modernization projects in climate-vulnerable regions.
This contract strengthens Itron's market position in the rapidly growing smart grid sector. The comprehensive nature of the project - covering hardware, software and services - aligns with utility industry trends toward integrated solutions. The focus on renewable integration and grid resilience addresses key market demands, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate events. With utilities globally investing in grid modernization, this high-profile project enhances Itron's competitive positioning. The local employment aspect and emphasis on customer benefits demonstrate strong ESG alignment, increasingly important for utility contracts.
Itron will partner with local vendors to install over 1.5 million meters across Puerto Rico as part of its Smart Meter Initiative
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LUMA announced today the completion of the open procurement process and the next step of their initiative to deploy approximately 1.5 million smart meters across Puerto Rico. This significant milestone in the modernization of Puerto Rico’s electric grid and customers will not see any rate increases associated with the initiative.
This contract is the result of a thorough and competitive process that followed all applicable laws and regulations including an open Request for Proposal (RFP). The selected vendor, Itron, a global leader in smart meter technology, will provide Puerto Rico with cutting-edge grid intelligence capabilities, enhancing the grid’s reliability, efficiency, and resilience. This contract will allow local companies in Puerto Rico to be part of the installation of the equipment, creating more than 150 direct and indirect jobs on the island.
As part of LUMA’s grid modernization efforts, LUMA will deploy Itron’s leading smart grid platform, which includes 1.5 million electric smart meters and a new communications network with redundancy that would be the first of its kind in the history of Puerto Rico. The platform features distributed intelligence grid-edge capabilities, which will give LUMA improved awareness and control of its electric grid, delivering more benefits to the people of Puerto Rico. With the platform, LUMA will improve reliability, resiliency and enhance customer service. Benefits of the platform include:
- Greater customer control over their energy consumption through better energy usage information.
- Better customer engagement and faster response for restoration of service through improved outage detection technology.
- Improved renewables integration while enabling broader deployment of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), including rooftop solar, battery storage, EV charging at home, and microgrids.
- Support for new energy efficiency programs to engage and empower customers to better manage their usage.
- Improved situational awareness below the substation for monitoring the grid and responding to changes in grid state during blue sky days and major weather events.
“We are taking a major step forward in our mission to transform Puerto Rico’s electric grid into a more reliable, resilient, and sustainable system,” said Juan Saca, President & CEO of LUMA. “The installation of these smart meters is central to our long-term goal of improving service to customers and ensuring that Puerto Rico becomes a leader in grid modernization in the Caribbean.”
“We are honored to work with LUMA on this historic project to advance grid modernization,” said Tom Deitrich, president and CEO of Itron. “With Itron’s intelligent endpoints, advanced software, and proven network platform, LUMA is building a foundation to ensure greater grid reliability and resiliency, enhanced quality of customer service, and accelerated response to extreme weather events.”
The installation will begin in the San Juan region and extend island-wide over the next three years. Field crews and subcontractors, primarily hired locally, will focus on safety and quality installations throughout the project.
Selection Process and Vendor Commitment
The selection process adhered to LUMA’s strict procurement guidelines, ensuring that the chosen vendor met all regulatory requirements and demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering quality and reliability. Itron’s technology suite includes a meter software system that will allow LUMA to better monitor energy usage, detect outages, and address tampering or system inefficiencies. The selected vendor’s technology also includes a 15-year warranty and integrates seamlessly with LUMA’s existing infrastructure, enhancing overall grid performance.
About LUMA
LUMA is a Puerto Rican company that, since June 1, 2021, operates and manages the electric power transmission and distribution system in Puerto Rico. LUMA is a company driven by a mission to transform the electrical transmission and distribution system to provide all Puerto Ricans with the reliable, resilient, clean, and affordable electrical service they deserve. As a customer-centric company, LUMA’s entire workforce is focused on safely delivering an exceptional customer service experience to its 1.5 million customers.
About Itron
Itron is a proven global leader in energy, water, smart city, IIoT and intelligent infrastructure services. For utilities, cities and society, we build innovative systems, create new efficiencies, connect communities, encourage conservation and increase resourcefulness. By safeguarding our invaluable natural resources today and tomorrow, we improve the quality of life for people around the world. Join us: www.itron.com.
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