MEA enters joint venture to develop Smart Metro Grid
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) is embarking on a joint venture to install smart meters for some 33,000 households in a move to pilot the government’s smart city initiative.
MEA governor Keerapat Jiamset said on Friday (January 17) that the authority had signed a memorandum of understanding with Forth and Yip In Tsoi in a joint venture to undertake the “Smart Metro Grid” project with a budget of Bt1.149 billion.
“This project aims to improve electrical services to fully support the modern lifestyle of people in metropolitan areas using digital technology,” he said.
“It is expected to be completed by 2022. The project includes installation of smart meters and two-way communication devices that will enable the MEA to monitor electricity usage in real time and pinpoint the locations where power malfunctions occur so as to deploy corrective measures as quickly as possible.
“Data collected by smart meters will be analysed to increase efficiency and minimise malfunction occurrences for future planning of the power grid system, with the focus on creating a foundation for the government’s smart city development plan.
“Furthermore, the smart meter will be more effective in preventing stealing of electricity by third parties as compared to a traditional meter,” the governor said.
In the first phase of the project, MEA aims to install 33,265 smart meters for electricity users in selected areas of Bangkok, Samut Prakarn and Nonthaburi provinces free of charge. “The smart metro grid in the second phase will continue to cover the entire metropolitan areas after we evaluate the effectiveness of the first phase and make necessary adjustments,” Keerapat added.
