Meters and More: Smart Tools Needed to Advance Stable ASEAN Grids

Before the pandemic, according to both the World Bank and the IEA, there had been noteworthy progress in electricity access among rural populations across Asia. Specifically, in South Asia electrification for rural residents went from 45% in 2000 to almost doubling to 87% in 2018. The electrification among the total population in countries including Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia has gone from under 20% in 2000 to over 70% in 2020.

Although the statistics look impressive, the numbers do not paint a complete picture of the true energy condition in these countries. Ensuring the electrification of rural areas is essential but typically these areas oftentimes find their electricity lacks consistency and reliability.

As a tool to combat intermittency, smart meters are an excellent solution to enhance reliability of electric grids which can highlight outages for utilities with greater precision. Smart meters transmit on-site electricity consumption data in sub-hourly intervals and this data could translate to less power outages while maximising reliability for electricity customers.

Smart meters ensure enhanced control of the electrical grid and provide a number of advantages related to grid operational cost. The Meters and More AISBL General Manager, Carlo Maria Drago, believes there are three natural areas of benefits which ASEAN grids could benefit.

“The first, reduced operational costs such as meter reading, fault management, contract management followed by the second which is increased revenues (i.e. on-time and accurate billing, fraud management). Lastly, I see an area of benefits related to improved network intelligence and control which is really the first and important step into the future of smart grids,” Carlo shared. Read the full article here.