Kralendijk- Water- en Energiebedrijf Bonaire N.V. (WEB) has launched a pilot project to explore the benefits of smart meters and to investigate which means of communication for smart meters works best on the island.

WEB starts the pilot project in July in Amboina. The smart meter can be operated and read remotely and can pass on the meter readings to WEB. The project is part of WEB’s efforts to work on an energy system for the future and to improve billing accuracy.

100 households

A total of 100 households were selected for this pilot, whereby the means of communication for the smart meters are also tested according to the LTE (Long-term Evolution) standard for wireless broadband communication.
After the old meters have been replaced, WEB employees can accurately measure the consumption remotely, instead of going on site. WEB will only use the consumption data for its own use and will not make it available to others in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act BES.

This pilot project is important to have an idea of how smart meters behave in the WEB environment (infrastructure) and the network, before a full rollout can begin in 2020/2021.

This investment in smart meters must also lead to better insight into the distribution network and to reduce losses in the distribution of electricity (NRE).