United Utilities has selected Arqiva as their smart partner to deliver more than a million smart meters across the North West before 2030.
Following a competitive tender process, Arqiva has been awarded with a framework worth approximately £250 million until 2030, with an option to extend for a further five years.
The proposals are part of the North West water company’s ambitious investment plans that will see the largest transformation of water and wastewater infrastructure in the region for a century.
As part of a long-term metering strategy, United Utilities will install more than a million smart meters across the region over the next five years, including the exchange of all meters for business customers. The water company said the additional insights from this metering data will be critical in managing water in the network, and in reducing consumption and leakage losses.
As part of the contract, Arqiva will be tasked with the sourcing, installation and commissioning of the smart water meters and associated devices as well as the establishment and ongoing management of the data communications network infrastructure.
Mike Gauterin, Customer and Technology Director for United Utilities, said:
“We’re really pleased to welcome Arqiva as our strategic smart metering partner. Their proven expertise as a UK critical national infrastructure provider means they’re ideally situated to partner us on our ambitious smart metering proposals. The data we receive from the meters will help drive down leakage both on our network and at customers’ properties as well as helping customers to save money by using less water.”
The investment in metering is part of a broader strategy that also includes an unprecedented £525 million package of support for those in need, furthering United Utilities’ industry-leading approach to affordability and vulnerability support to customers.
Arqiva provide communications networks, data management and analytics in a single, end-to-end managed service. Their networks already link over 2 million smart-enabled devices, delivering 50 million data points every day.
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