The case for an experienced AMI consultant

AMI makes the grid more reliable and resilient, enables renewables, and gives customers and operators detailed usage and billing information. As AMI use continues to grow, it’s common for utilities to issue RFPs that only replace their existing metering systems. Consultants with a narrow focus have a tendency to focus on basic functionality such as automated meter reading while missing the big picture which includes AMI’s ability to improve utility operations and create additional cost savings.

“Working with Quanta Technology on our AMI deployment resulted in one of the most successful projects I have ever been involved with. The focus on our utility's needs, priorities, people, and processes coupled with their AMI expertise helped us to get the full benefits of an AMI system." - Mike New, City Manager, Newberry, FL

While many consultants focus on the operational savings of a basic AMI implementation, an experienced AMI consultant works with you to ensure that your strategic goals are incorporated into your RFPs and that your investment is maximized by considering additional benefits. ?Most importantly, they will work with you to gain a complete understanding of all your needs across people, processes, end customer engagement, and technology.?An AMI consultant with experience implementing large and small deployments through planning, vendor selection, and implementation phases will help you consider the following items critical to success:

• Ensure stakeholder engagement to set and meet system expectations
• Address gaps in organizational readiness
• Choose technologies that adapt to the utility’s environment and not the other way around
• Align integration, design, and test plans to support your use cases of today and tomorrow.

“The promise of AMI began with the efficiencies of automated meter reading, but today it encompasses outage management systems, ?demand management, load profiling, advanced analytics, and integration with customer technologies such as programmable thermostats. Utilities need to make sure they have a plan to get all available benefits from an AMI system.? The right consultant can help make that a reality." - David Hart, Vice President, Quanta Technology

For more than 15 years, Quanta Technology has provided experienced consulting services to utilities throughout the United States and worldwide.?For more information, please contact Quanta Technology at [email protected] or [email protected].