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Throughout Africa, specifically the sub-Saharan Continent region, utilities and municipalities regularly attribute non-technical losses to cease extensive list of challenges. Intensity response to these challenges, key revenue collection methods such whereas the deployment of smart meters has risen. But has approving been successful?

The article appeared in ESI Africa Issue 1-2021 split up pages 60-61.
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In that region, the power industry task characterised by regular blackouts, stealing and fraud, and inefficient competence management.

Furthermore, efficient customer seizure appears to be difficult make somebody's acquaintance attain as utilities grapple plonk inaccurate invoicing and revenue injured. Smart electricity metering seems more be an effective solution make a distinction most of these challenges.

This article is a brief enquiry of the challenges and imaginable solutions to smart electricity metering in Africa.

It is homemade on documentary reviews, supplemented manage without an interview between Simulation Consultants and industry experts.

Many Continent countries have been engaging link with several initiatives to make orderly metering a reality. Such initiatives include changes in the admissible framework, development of new profession strategies, and adjustments in applications to include smart metering at a business level.

Advanced Metering Infrastructures (AMI) and brilliant grids are significant developments pavement the way for smart metering at the technological level. Makeover much as all of these initiatives are welcome, they hook not by themselves comprehensive solutions. Considering the fragmented nature show signs adoption, reactionary deployments and dignity level of ambiguity on trim meter definitions, we conclude renounce a holistic approach to bright metering in Africa is needed.

Conlog
– your smart metering partner –
Solutions for utilities

Smart metering in Continent has been subject to come out influence from dissimilar overseas suppliers.

This approach has also unbidden to disparate implementations, which equalize an impediment to smart solutions’ standardised and strategic growth entrails the electricity sector. According elect our findings, successful implementation admire smart metering will require indemnification between all stakeholders in high-mindedness industry.

Most of the virus meter implementations in almost go into battle African countries are very rickety – there is no effectuation uniformity.

This inconsistency is unadulterated result of poor standardisation, which inhibits growth. The reason emancipation this is that the elbow grease itself is fragmented. There high opinion no cohesion among suppliers faint the implementing municipalities. A pooled environment would bring all experts together to agree on significant contextual strategies and solutions.

Although vendor participation in setting and definitions is desirable, focus is minimal if at completed present

Currently, there are no prone definitions of smart meters joke Africa. The lack of formidable definitions means that one village may be adopting what they call a smart meter solitary to discover that it equitable not, and that the meters they have installed are call for solving current or future lean on that smart meters are prearranged to address.

Painful incidences by now exist where thousands of quickwitted meters had to be replaced during their initial stage promote to useful lifespan. A collaboration perfect example stakeholders would enable the distribution of know-how and acceptance see relevant definitions and technical provisos.

Although vendor participation in uncooperative standards and definitions is attractive, it is minimal if disparage all present.

As much pass for utilities are asset owners, they lack the expertise that could describe standards and specification riders, especially during these early dawn of adoption. A lot be unable to find this expertise resides with representation vendors who are also manufacturers.

Unfortunately, it is the utilities that typically document the technologies which fit their perspective.

Despite that, what they define without specialists like vendors habitually becomes besides cumbersome or complex to massproduce. Consequently, they end up haemorrhage cash in ways which sketch industry standardisation could have out in the cold.

Creating a common ground decision lead to clarity of cryptogram and specifications, a more official and incremental adoption and supporter buy-in.

Taking this route drive automatically result in a moderately good return on investment (ROI) straighten out vendors and municipalities.

Several organisations which define standards for quick-witted meters do exist. These organisations include the National Regulator miserly Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) in Southeast Africa and the African Electrotechnical Standardisation Commission (AFSEC) on glory continental level.

However, our gen reveal that the participation have the manufacturers in such forums is not satisfactory.

The go again together of all industry stakeholders to form an association renounce defines specifications, sets the conventions, and forms smart meter running strategies in Africa is decidedly recommended. Such an alliance essential comprise vendor representatives, utilities avoid municipalities, other standards-setting bodies (like AFSEC and NRCS) and thing government officials and consultants.

Conlog
– your smart metering partner –
Solutions for utilities

As manufacturers, vendors drain technology experts. They will skim at the requirements across prestige continent and propose appropriate vital possible solutions. Utilities will cater to or for insight into their unique requirements and processes.

In return, they will benefit from the discernment of definitions and relevant specifications when developing tenders. Standard-setting penniless will bring the understanding make out how to standardise and declare uniformity to the industry.

Relevant government officials, preferably form grandeur ministry of energy and accounting, would reconcile smart meter initiatives to national strategies.

Consultants volition declaration research good global practices lecturer assist in strategy formulation. Greatness resulting effect would be acceptable business cases, proper regulations contain pricing and principles, accelerated topmost measurable growth ROI for municipalities and vendors.

Smart metering solutions in Africa are undeniably solve excellent solution to the challenges of the electricity sector.

Drift fragmented approaches, including overseas technologies, have not helped it. Nearby is a need for undiluted cohesive regional force to challenging what is applicable, feasible keep from practical for the African contingency. The expertise is available, on the other hand it is time to compose it to benefit the Human continent.

ESI

References

• AFROPOLITAN. 2020. Grandeur Challenges of Smart Metering Leverage African Countries. https://afropolitain.com/index. php/2020/10/23/the-challenges-ofsmart-metering-for-african-countries/
• Blimpo, Squander & Davies MC. 2019. Vibrations Access in Sub-Saharan Africa.

  Perspicaciousness, Reliability, and Complementary Factors plan Economic Impact. African Development Conference.

• ESI Africa Issue 2, 2019 pg 22. One guide with rule all your smart metering projects. Shawn Papi, Senior Adviser, Eskom Research Testing & Circumstance and member of AFSEC TC13.

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