January 29, 2014 – Sensus has announced it will deploy its FlexNet advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) solution for SaskPower and SaskEnergy in “one of Canada’s most ambitious AMI projects that will help support unprecedented economic growth in the province”.

The Sensus FlexNet system is an interoperable infrastructure platform based on open standards and supports multiple applications. It serves as a dedicated and secure two-way communications highway that reaches all points in a utility’s service area, said Sensus, adding that all data is protected and secured in local SaskPower data centres. Included in the network will be almost 1 million electric meters and gas modules through Saskatchewan’s service territory.

“Our customers at SaskPower and SaskEnergy were looking for a flexible and secure platform that would support their continued growth,” said Sensus president Randy Bays. “Our technologies will help them reach their environmental goals while delivering improved operational performance and savings from day one.”
 
The Sensus network will be the foundation for different applications, beginning with meter reading and billing, new electric smart meters and a two-way radio module upgrade to existing natural gas meters.
 
Data collected from the meters allows SaskPower to bill its customers every month based on actual consumption—instead of estimates sent four times a year, said Sensus. Added benefits of the system include customers seeing cost savings sooner related to energy efficiencies initiatives, billing questions resolved more efficiently, no manual on-site reads and simple and quick tenancy changes when preparing to move, it continued.
 
The project began in October 2013 and will continue until summer 2015.
 
SaskPower estimates that the system will pay for itself in 11 years and SaskEnergy expects a cost recovery for its portion of the project within seven to 10 years.