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PLN pushes for digital meters
State-owned electricity company PLN is in the process of switching from the current manual electricity meters to digital ones, using a technology called advanced metering infrastructure (AMI).
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A PLN technician checks electricity meters on Nov. 15, 2017, at a low-cost apartment building in Daan Mogot, West Jakarta. (JP/Bangkit Jaya Putra)
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tate-owned electricity company PLN is in the process of switching from the current manual electricity meters to digital ones, using a technology called advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), expecting that the new system can be used by 1 million customers this year.
The AMI is an integrated system of smart meters, communication networks and data management systems that enables two-way communication between utilities and customers, according to a definition given by the United States Department of Energy.
Digital meters had been in place since 2014, but were only used by big corporations in West Java, said Djoko Rahardjo Abumanan, PLN regional business director for the eastern part of Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara.
“Now, we will use the system for all customers,” he said in Jakarta recently.
He said the initial phase for the installation of digital meters would take place in big cities and tourist destinations, such as Jakarta, Bali and Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara.
He added that customers would not have to pay for the switch from manual to digital as PLN would be responsible for the costs.
“It will work like a smartphone. […] The meter works with our mother computer to communicate to all regions across Indonesia,” he said.
PLN has teamed up with 55 banks and a number of companies that can provide a meter switching service, such as convenience store chain Indomaret. (brf)
