E.ON Elnät Sverige

From the meter to the system and communications, including operation, logistics, testing, installation and implementation: this one-stop-shop offer from Landis+Gyr appealed to E.ON Elnät Sverige. The group ordered an AMM solution with 390,000 metering points and operational services.

Normally utility customers choose only the parts of the value chain they specifi cally need, but E.ON chose all of them. All these elements work together seamlessly, providing a value driven solution, delivering above expectations for one of the premier energy suppliers in Sweden. The reason for this program was straightforward. On July 1st, 2009 all utilities in Sweden, due to new legislation, must read their meters monthly, delivering bills based on real consumption data to their customers. It is impossible to use “meter men” to do this, especially in the north of Sweden where the population density is very low. Therefore, a smart metering solution is needed.

Comprehensive and proven technology
The integrated solution that Landis+Gyr came up with was vast in its scope, comprehensive in its technology offering, and thorough in its testing and provisioning for the 100 million Euro contract which included 390,000 metering points. Of paramount importance to E.ON was not wanting to be a “pilot”. E.ON wanted tried and tested technology and services. This entire project symbolized the quality and synergy that was realized in terms of people, products and systems when Landis+Gyr and Enermet merged during 2006. The contract was won due to this merger. Landis+Gyr gave E.ON the mass, strength and reliability required, Enermet provided the totally integrated smart metering system, AIM, and the merge provided local knowledge and project management skills. The synergies in product, solutions and team work produced the system that fi t E.ON’s exact requirements.

Ambitious implementation plan
The contract was signed on 18th April, 2007. For the next eight months E.ON and Landis+Gyr worked together planning the system and implementation; the greatest challenge was the deployment of 390,000 meters in a relatively short period of time. The result was 10,000 installed meters that functioned as the preliminary system in making sure everything, including logistics, was ready, to ensure a smooth implementation. At the end of this exercise E.ON gave approval for the roll-out.

Close cooperation with partners
Instrumental to winning the bid were Landis+Gyr’s partners. For meter deployment and system operation, Landis+Gyr is partnering with Bravida Sverige AB, Skvader Systems AB and Telia Sonera AB. From January 2008 this fi nely tuned logistics process moved into high gear, installing 40,000 meters per month all across Sweden. 250 personnel deployed across the country with a fl eet of 90 newly purchased vans, snow mobiles and even a hovercraft. There was also a fi ght against the elements as Bravida was responsible for the “removal of snow on the roads” (not including main roads) in order to facilitate an easy installation process. In parallel is a second contract for the management and operation of the system, whereby Landis+Gyr will collect the data for a period of six years. This again has very stringent guidelines. At the beginning of each month all data must be collected for the past month and delivered to E.ON. This involves data management, including changes incustomers’ data, new dwellings, etc. Without the comprehensive AIM system this would not be possible.

E.ON Sverige

• From 1st July, 2009, all Swedish utilities must read their meters monthly
• € 100 m turnkey contract to enable E.ON to do this Customer wanted tried and proven technology
• Landis+Gyr to collect data for six years as service provider