BC Hydro, the third largest electric utility in Canada, has announced the advancement of its Smart Metering & Infrastructure Program with the selection of Capgemini. The three-year contract with Capgemini is worth an estimated $63 million CAD (approximately €48 million).
The smart metering program, including the installation of new digital meters, is a key first step in delivering a modern electricity grid for the benefit of BC Hydro customers. By improving safety, reliability, customer service, and reducing electricity theft, BC Hydro is confident the $930 million CAD (approximately €709 million) program will return benefits of over $1.6 billion CAD (approximately €1.22 billion) to BC Hydro customers.
Under the agreement, Capgemini will provide system integration and project management services, helping to design and deliver a program that will see the replacement of more than 1.8 million meters in BC with digital smart meters, along with information technology and telecommunications infrastructure to enable two-way communications between BC Hydro and its customers.
Smart Energy Services is one of the five offerings launched by Capgemini group in 2010. This global service line is providing the full spectrum of smart metering, smart grid, smart home solutions and smart analytics to utilities across the globe. The offering leverages a range of proven services and best practices successfully developed by Capgemini since 2004 working with more than 20 North American and European utilities. Also central to the Smart Energy Services offering is the company’s proprietary Managed Business Services, a usage-based pricing model designed to offer greater flexibility for the utility by minimizing large upfront capital expenditure.
