Silver Spring Networks Partners with Metrix for Smart Metering-as-a-Service Model

Silver Spring Networks, Inc. has announced a partnership with Metrix to leverage the Silver Spring networking platform to deliver smart metering-as-a-service to retail energy providers. The first joint deployment between Silver Spring and Metrix will be for Counties Power, a lines company serving more than 37,000 customers in New Zealand’s North Island. Metrix, a division of Mighty River Power, has successfully deployed more than 330,000 smart meters in the greater Auckland area and is expanding into other areas to meet the increasing demand for smart metering services.

Counties Power is leveraging Silver Spring’s Gen4 networking technology for smart metering and smart grid deployments. In New Zealand’s disaggregated energy market, lines companies oversee energy distribution while energy retailers are responsible for deploying smart meters to end customers. Counties Power and Metrix will partner to utilize Silver Spring’s networking platform and UtilityIQ head-end software to deliver smart metering-as-a-service to their energy retailer clients.

Counties Power is also expected to utilise Silver Spring’s platform to improve the reliability and performance of its network, enable faster outage detection and restoration, and deliver improved power quality to its customers. On the demand side, Counties Power’s customers will be able to take greater control of their electricity consumption and their bills through the latest smart grid technology.

The joint Silver Spring and Metrix deployment with Counties Power is scheduled to begin in late 2013.