NZ Among Leaders in Advanced Metering Adoption

New Zealand Among Leading Countries in Advanced Metering Adoption

Vector Network News

Smart meter penetration in New Zealand, of which Auckland’s Vector is the major provider, is rapidly approaching 42%, putting New Zealand amongst the leading countries in advanced metering adoption globally.

From this base, New Zealand is well positioned to begin implementing other smart grid technologies and services that rely on smart meters, such as micro generation (micro wind, solar PV) and home automation solutions.

The current penetration rate in New Zealand is 42%. This is well ahead of North America at 30% - 35% and the UK.

Vector’s smart meters are also the most functionally rich on the market, and are deployed nationwide across multiple retailers, which differs from other market deployments, both in New Zealand and overseas.

Smart meters set the platform for future transformation of the way that all parties in the electricity market (generators, lines companies, retailers, consumers) create, sell, control and use power

The meters utilise a GPRS network in contrast to most other countries where RF mesh technology is prevalent. Vector also leverages its smart meter expertise offering metering data services to customers and is investigating smart meters for other utilities such as gas and water.

NETWORK SUMMARY for week ending 18 November 2012

ELECTRICITY
It’s been another busy week on our electricity network. Response crews attended eight car v poles, six car v pillars, four overhead contacts, five cable strikes and one car v transformer.
Repairs were made to three feeders in Sandringham, Waiatarua and Tomarata; crews repaired lines down in Epsom and Papatoetoe, made safe a Telecom cable in Papakura North and an incident in Meadowbank where a tree limb fell onto lines between poles causing them to sag.
The week also saw the response crews attend three house fires in Mission Bay, Mangere Central and Parau. In Whangaparaoa an outage was caused by an underground cable fault and another outage was caused by a bird strike in Gulf Harbour.
GAS TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
There were 13 gas service pipe strikes this week and four minor gas mains pipe strikes on our gas networks this week. In all instances, fault crews made sites safe and repaired the equipment. Please take care around our gas network and call 0508 B4 U WORK (248 967) or 0800 B4 U DIG if outside Auckland.
PROJECTS
Vector is carrying out an upgrade project to reinforce part of our gas network in the Frankton area.

The work will increase the gas capacity to provide for new connections and enable a full range of gas appliances to be connected to Vector’s network. This involves replacing the low pressure cast iron network pipes with new medium pressure pipes. This includes replacing customer service pipes - the pipes running from the network in the street to the gas meter on the house - and we will also replace some gas meters.

Work will be carried out in sections and should only directly affect the road frontage outside properties for a small amount of this time. Most of the new network pipes will be inserted into the existing gas mains and we will need to dig pot holes at intervals to access the existing pipes. In some places we may need to dig trenches.

We will consult with gas customers before we start this work on their service pipes and when the gas supply is restored we will make sure their gas appliances are switched back on and are working safely. To ensure a smooth flow of traffic, full traffic management plans have been developed and will be used throughout the duration of the project. In most cases, the directional flow of both traffic lanes will be maintained. The work sites have been designed so that pedestrians will still be able to pass by the works.

SHORTS
• Vector owns over 17,737 kilometres of overhead and underground lines in the greater Auckland area, and 12,572 kilometres of gas pipe lines, with almost half supplying gas to Auckland.

• Sky City Breakers are at the Arena through to 28 February 2013. Nicki Minaj, and special guest Tyga, are set to lift the roof off Vector Arena on Saturday 24 November, 2012. Vector, proud sponsor of the Arena.

Vector owns and manages a unique portfolio which consists of electricity distribution, gas transmission and distribution, electricity and gas metering installations and data management services, natural gas and LPG and fibre optic networks.

Vector is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange with ticker symbol VCT. For further information, visit www.vector.co.nz

ENDS

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