Consumers Energy has planned to install Elster’s EnergyAxis residential and commercial smart meters as part of its smart grid pilot program and intends to use the results of that program to make its smart grid investment decisions.
Elster claims that EnergyAxis enables utilities to realize operational efficiencies, implement demand response programs that can conserve resources and reduce costs, especially during periods of peak demand, improve customer service, reduce outage response and repair time.
Furthermore, it provides information to end consumers to allow them to manage their energy consumption and conserve environmental and economic resources by reducing the loss of electricity, gas and water as they move from the supply source to homes and businesses, the company said.
Wayne Longcore, director of enterprise architecture and standards at Consumers Energy, said: “After seeing the successful large scale deployments of EnergyAxis with other utilities, and testing it extensively in our labs, we are looking forward to seeing how the EnergyAxis solution will perform in our system and how this technology could support our efforts to provide efficient and cost-effective service to customers.”
Mark Munday, president and CEO of Elster, North America, said: “Smart Grids will enable natural resource conservation, improve the way utilities operate their distribution systems and provide new options which empower consumers to manage their energy usage.”
