The solutions comprise sophisticated machine-to-machine (M2M) technology that effectively addresses the skills shortage barrier by providing clients with immediate access to daily monitoring and control of their water and/or energy consumption.
Smart water metering solutions allow for the identification of system malfunctions, leaks, pressure fluctuations or unauthorised water use as they happen and send early alarm notifications allowing immediate action. Furthermore, they remove the need for monthly manual meter readings and ensure that accurate readings are provided to local councils for billing. The benefits of smart metering solutions are often underestimated and even a small leak of only 2m³/hour can result in an additional R27,000 each month to the customer's water bill.
WRP has partnered XLink Communications to provide the M2M platform, product installation, ongoing portal support and maintenance services that enable WRP to transmit the data from the reader logger attached to the client's water meter through to a base station and, ultimately, to XLink's Insight for m2mconneXion, an internet-based data acquisition and display facility.
"Without this form of 'real time' monitoring a leakage of this kind is often overlooked and can run for months if not years. As water becomes more expensive and scarce throughout South Africa, the need to implement continuous monitoring and evaluation will increase," commented Grant McGlashan of XLink Communications.
Electricity consumption is no different for businesses and smart energy metering allows businesses to turn data into strategic intelligence that also positively impacts on the bottom line.An analysis of the data collected in 2013 revealed that 77% of KT Utility Forensics' 800 customers discovered discrepancies in their electricity billing. Smart electricity metering resolves concerns around current local council billing and ensures that clients are only billed for their actual consumption at the legislated tariffs as set by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).
The web-based online management system uses the latest in online metering technology, enabling internet-connected customers to monitor their utility meters remotely through access to up-to-date billing and usage diagrams. Each meter is fitted with a SIM card that sends the relevant data via the GSM network to the online portal where the data is captured in various reporting and graphical formats. End-users have accurate and real-time readings of energy consumption (KWH), demand (KVA), reactive power (KVar), voltage (V), amps (A), frequency and power factor. This information provides the client access to accurate carbon footprint reporting, outage monitoring, bill comparison, meter estate management, usage optimisation as well as tariff comparison.
In addition to reducing carbon footprints and benefiting from the associated cost savings, there is also a government incentive linked to smart utility monitoring. The energy efficiency tax incentive Section 12L of the Income Tax Act (deduction in respect of energy efficiency savings) came into effect on 1 November, 2013, which allows taxpayers to claim deductions of 45 cents per kilowatt hour, or kilowatt hour equivalent, of energy efficiency savings before the year 2020.
For more, go to www.xlink.co.za.
