Cellnet Technology, Inc. announced at DistribuTECH this week that Austin Energy recently contracted Cellnet for the addition of over 230,000 new advanced metering customers. Upon completion of the roll-out, Austin Energy will have 100% smart metering coverage across its service territory for over 360,000 customers.

Cellnet is installing its two-way UtiliNet mesh network and solid-state meters to support on-demand metering applications including remote meter reading, remote disconnect/reconnect, time-of-use rates, and real-time outage restoration verification. The system will also serve as a foundation for Austin Energy's strategy to deploy an intelligent grid framework across its service territory.

A community-owned utility, Austin Energy is a national leader in the deployment of renewable and energy efficiency programs for its customers. Its Greenchoice program leads some 600 utility-sponsored green power programs in the United States with over 550 million kWh in sales annually. Austin Energy will leverage the UtiliNet platform to accelerate its energy efficiency programs with expanded capabilities for direct load control, smart thermostats, and integrated customer demand response.