US utilities extend contracts for next-generation smart meters
December 7, 2018
Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L) and Westar Energy have signed new and extended existing contracts for smart grid deployment with Landis+Gyr.
The subsidiaries of Evergy will deploy advanced metering infrastructure (AMI).
The news follows Westar recently completing the installation of Landis+Gyr’s Gridstream AMI solution, which includes an RF mesh network and second-generation smart meters for 700,000 electric customers.
Meanwhile, KCP&L is continuing work that supports an expansion of their managed services contract with Landis+Gyr, signed earlier this year. The contract extends the service agreement to 2034 and includes the addition of 180,000 advanced meters.
The Westar advanced meter deployment, which started in 2014, was completed ahead of schedule. Landis+Gyr is providing both the network and related software as services to the Evergy utilities, including dedicated onsite personnel.
Under terms of the new services contract, which includes a 16-year extension to the utility’s managed services contract, KCP&L will expand advanced metering beyond the Kansas City metro area beginning in 2019, and cover more rural areas of the utility’s service territory in Missouri and Kansas.
“The value of advanced metering data has proven itself for improving reliability and efficiency for both utilities,” said Jeff Beasley, vice president of Customer Operations at Evergy. “The expanded metering coverage planned for KCP&L will help us improve customer service throughout our service territory, while reducing truck rolls and operational costs.”
Landis+Gyr will complete installation of network components at KCP&L early in 2019 to provide coverage for the new FOCUS AX-SD and S4x meters. The meter deployment will take place over a two-year period.
“KCP&L was one of our first advanced metering customers and the latest service agreement extends our working relationship to 40 years,” said Eric Seiter, Vice President and Regional General Manager at Landis+Gyr. “We look forward to helping both KCP&L and Westar identify new ways their technology investments can improve operations and customer service.”
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