U.S. tech firm Itron has signed a contract with Liberty Utilities Company, a subsidiary of Algonquin Power and Utilities, which operates nearly 40 utilities in 13 U.S. states.
Under the agreement, Liberty Utilities will deploy Itron’s OpenWay Riva, an internet of things solution that includes an open, standards-based network for gas, electricity and water.
Itron said the deployment of this IoT-based solution will help Liberty Utilities improve operations and enhance customer experience. Itron will also provide managed services and cloud-hosting services to ensure smooth implementation and operation of the network.
Serving approximately 800,000 customers across the United States, Liberty Utilities will deploy Itron’s IoT multi-purpose network to upgrade aging infrastructure with advanced metering and distributed intelligence capabilities across its electric, water and gas installed base.
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With Itron’s network and high-performance endpoints, the utilities will be equipped to optimize grid performance and will also be able to analyze data in real time to manage risk and respond to rapidly changing grid conditions.
“At Algonquin, our customers are at the core of all we do. We pride ourselves in providing safe, efficient and dependable services that help our customers manage and improve their daily lives,” said Brent Baker, vice president, national customer experience at Liberty Utilities. “This project is a pivotal component in furthering our strategic initiatives of safety, sustainability, customer satisfaction and operational stability.”
Liberty Utilities will also implement Itron’s managed services to operate and maintain the IoT network. Itron’s experts will manage the system and mitigate any issues. Itron’s technology will enable accurate data collection, data management and automate the meter-to-cash process while optimizing network operations, upgrades and endpoint monitoring.
“This deployment demonstrates how our network can unify multiple services to enhance customer experience and improve operations,” said Mike Zimmer, vice president, commercial and customer enablement, Americas. “With our open standards network, Liberty Utilities will be equipped to expand their network applications beyond metering in the future to meet its evolving needs.”