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Focus Choosing the right smart metering solution – a strategic decision Determining the right kind of a smart metering solution is a crucial strategic decision for utilities to take as an initial stage of their smart meter project planning. When drafting the tender for a smart metering rollout, a utility’s leadership team must be prepared to answer two basic, but very important questions: What can we do ourselves? What must we subcontract and have others do for us? The range of available devices, software and vendors is broad, as is the spectrum between the two extremes, namely the component and the turn-key solution. Utility customers can buy all the components for their smart metering solution separately and manage the rollout and the software integration themselves, or they can opt for a turn-key solution and, for instance, rely on a subcontractor to manage the project in its entirety. There is no right or wrong way of approaching a complex project like a smart metering rollout, but it is important to understand that choosing the right approach depends on a number of factors. “Usually, size and manpower play a very important role from the utility’s point of view,” says Xavier Ringot, VP Smart Metering Solutions Center, Landis+Gyr EMEA. 4