MeterSmart announces a new offering that will allow utilities to collect accurate meter data across the globe, including rural and remote areas, via a deployed constellation of more than 25 orbiting satellites. Satellite data communication for metering, scarcely affordable or available prior to now, is more reliable in remote areas than cellular technologies because it clears any interference caused by large natural or man-made obstructions, plus it is accessible where rugged terrain prevents installing phone lines at a reasonable cost.

With this service offering, MeterSmart will apply its MDMA-certified procedures to read meter data via satellite daily and provide the data to utilities' MV-90 systems or other common utility software platforms. It can then be compiled and analyzed for any number of purposes. These may include forecasting the next day's demand requirements through quickly and easily aggregating substation loads. Other examples include load profiling, demand response programs, demand-side management, creation and modification of utility marketing programs, other types of substation monitoring and billing and settlements. The two-way satellite service, with general availability in the fourth quarter of 2004, will initially be offered using GE KV2 socket-based meters at the customer site or MeterSmart non-socket meters, including the MeterSmart 5000 advanced meter or the MeterSmart Interval Data Recorder (IDR). The MeterSmart 5000 and IDR record data on a 15-minute basis and can also read gas meters, water meters, thermostats or pressure readings.
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