Jamaica Public Service is introducing smart meters to 20,000 of its customers in seven parishes over the next 3 months. Approximately 2 to 3 thousand customers per parish will receive the smart meters and JPS aims to install 40,000 meters next year. The program will run through 2020.
Chief technology officer at JPS Gary Barrow said that the company is hoping to have 50 percent of the population and 80 percent of their revenue base covered by 2020. The meter switch, at an initial cost of US$5 million, will be incurred by the utility and includes the cost of a special smart grid communication network to be provided by US company Silver Spring Networks.
The smart meter will provide energy management and conservation benefits to both company and consumer, and boasts a mesh network communication system for consistent power supply. By the end of the year, customers will have access to a web-portal that gives them real time updates on usage and the cost of their upcoming bill.
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