The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has started implementing the Advanced Metering Infrastructure project in co-operation with German company Siemens as part of the efforts to launch the smart meter system in the country.
Under the project, a smart platform, representing the infrastructure of smart electricity and water meters, will be deployed. This will enable electricity and water meters installation and their integration with the remote monitoring and reading platform.
With this advanced system, Kahramaa will benefit from the huge data received through the main system by analysing programmes that enhance operational efficiency, raising operational flexibility and reducing the number of manual operations.
The QR30mn project will take nine months for implementation. Kahramaa looks to complete the first phase of installing smart meters by the end of 2020. During the first phase, 50,000 to 60,000 smart meters will be installed in various areas across the country.
This system supports Kahramaa’s efforts to reduce waste and monitor consumption details accurately and instantly at any time. It also makes use of modern technology to conserve consumption via smart meters in line with the objectives of the National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed). At the same time, the system will assist in identifying violations and publishing data analysis to fix the sources of violations.
Customers will also receive a regular bill with the highest accuracy rates as the new system entirely depends on a digital system where readings are automatically transferred to the system for issuing invoices. The system also allows prepayment through smart meters.
Through this advanced system, Kahramaa will have a clearer vision for its network and able to control performance better through a flexible system that proactively adapts to changes in the network’s needs. It will contribute to achieve Qatar's goals related to smart cities. The project also provides an Internet of Things platform and suite of applications that helps Kahramaa to unify devices, grid infrastructure and market operations through a single unique architecture.
The smart meter infrastructure system is integrated with the customer management and billing system ,which is implemented in co-operation with Oracle Corporation. It can integrate more than one system and application into an advanced and flexible system that integrates with all customers data.
Kahramaa implements the system with its plan to transform Qatar’s network into a safe, sustainable and digitally automated network. It’s worth mentioning that the new project comes as part of Kahramaa’s plans to transform into a smart corporation.
