Itron and Coopesantos R.L. Make History in Central America with First Successful Completion of Advanced Metering Infrastructure Deployment in Costa Rica
March 07 2024 - 8:45AM
Business Wire
Coopesantos R.L. Becomes the First Rural
Utility to Fully Implement Itron’s Smart Metering Solution in Costa
Rica, Paving the Way for a Smarter and More Efficient Grid
Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI), which is innovating new ways for
utilities and cities to manage energy and water, announced that in
collaboration with Los Santos Rural Electrification Cooperative
(Coopesantos R.L.), one of four electric cooperatives in Costa Rica
committed to improving the well-being of the community, achieved a
significant milestone by fully implementing Itron’s Advanced
Metering Infrastructure (AMI) network and becoming the first rural
electrifier in Costa Rica and Central America to complete this
project.
The five-year project connected Itron’s distributed intelligence
(DI)-enabled AMI solution with Coopesantos R.L.’s customer
information system and more than 50,000 Itron smart electricity
meters. Upgrading to Itron’s AMI solution enables Coopesantos R.L.
with grid edge intelligence, extending the visibility and control
needed to advance its goal of optimizing and modernizing its
electrical grid.
The Coopesantos R.L. service territory covers over 1,500 km2 or
579 square miles in rural Costa Rica. By deploying Itron’s full AMI
solution, delivered via local Itron channel partners Conelectricas,
R.L. and Itecna, Coopesantos R.L. now has remote visibility into
each Itron smart meter across its diverse territory, including in
difficult to access areas, such as in the mountains or in urban
areas.
The full Itron AMI solution combines robust smart metering
functionality and a DI platform that offers a new approach to
managing electricity. Benefits of the Itron AMI solution
include:
- Power Outage Alerts: Costa Rica is prone to extreme
weather events. As the Itron AMI system automatically collects
readings from each meter, Coopesantos R.L. has insight into whether
a power outage has occurred. This enables the cooperative to
respond more quickly to power outages, improving reliability and
client satisfaction.
- Reducing Carbon Footprint: The Itron AMI solution is
equipped with two-way communications, which allows the cooperative
to remotely read meters and perform updates to each meter remotely.
As a result, the Coopesantos can reduce truck rolls and decrease
its environmental impact.
- Increased Client Satisfaction: With detailed insight
into energy usage data, Coopesantos can detect changes in energy
consumption patterns. In addition, the meter can detect technical
irregularities, indicating potential energy theft.
“Being the first cooperative to deploy smart meters in Costa
Rica and Central America marks a significant step toward the
modernization of the infrastructure and distribution of electrical
energy in rural areas where we provide service to all homes,
businesses and industries. This allows us to get closer to a smart
grid model of developed countries,” said Mario Patricio Solis
Solis, General Manager, Coopesantos R.L. “Our electrical
distribution deployment has been strengthened with this investment
in technology and devices from Itron, automating and optimizing our
operational processes. We’re thrilled to continue working together
as we embark on creating a reliable smart grid to prepare for the
future.”
“As the first rural cooperative in Central America to implement
a full AMI solution throughout its service territory, Coopesantos
R.L. is a leader in delivering public services in rural areas,
demonstrating that deploying an intelligently connected AMI
solution is possible, regardless of the challenges created by
hard-to-access areas,” said John Marcolini, senior vice
president of Network Solutions at Itron. “We congratulate
Coopesantos R.L. on their milestone and were honored to be a part
of their efforts to create a smarter grid.”
“Together, with Itron, we have brought cutting-edge technology
to Latin America and we are thrilled to be a part of Coopesantos
R.L.’s journey of modernizing its grid. With Costa Rica’s
unpredictable weather events, having an AMI system in place to
withstand the unexpected is crucial,” said Erick Rojas, General
Manager at Conelectricas, R.L. “By upgrading to Itron’s
solution, Coopesantos R.L. positions itself as an electrification
industry leader by fully enabling smart grid technology.”
About Itron
Itron is a proven global leader in energy, water, smart city,
IIoT and intelligent infrastructure services. For utilities, cities
and society, we build innovative systems, create new efficiencies,
connect communities, encourage conservation and increase
resourcefulness. By safeguarding our invaluable natural resources
today and tomorrow, we improve the quality of life for people
around the world. Join us: www.itron.com.
Itron® is a registered trademark of Itron, Inc. All third-party
trademarks are property of their respective owners and any usage
herein does not suggest or imply any relationship between Itron and
the third party unless expressly stated.
Itron, Inc.
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Communications 509-891-3802 PR@Itron.com
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