Forums Posts

by tracey.hamer@midcoast.nsw.gov.au Joined 22-08-2019 01:40 PM Posts 7

Hi all, Can anyone who has rolled out smart meters share the benefits they have realised or some lessons learnt? I'm interested in finding out how the cost benefit analysis or business case aligned with the actual smart meter roll out. Were there unexpected, overestimated or underestimated benefits or costs? Thanks in advance. Regards, Tracey

by Goldenfields Water County Council Joined 22-07-2016 02:43 PM Posts 23

Hi Tracey, Happy for you to contact me directly if you would like any more information sammy.jung@gwcc.nsw.gov.au. Goldenfields Water installed Taggle devices about 10 years ago so I don't have any current cost benefit analysis/business case that I can share. We are currently in our rollout of replacing these meters. A few lessons learnt from us is that the system requires consistent management and someone who understands what they are doing, regularly reviews data and problem solves. eg validating that zero reads are valid no usage and not a faulty tag. Audits should be undertaken on a regular basis to identify any issues. Moving forward we are considering to implement a full system wide meter read ever 2-3 years as an audit. This is due to our replacement program identifying issues that have been ongoing and undetected for up to 10 years since initial install. Benefits of the system is the data. We use the consumption data for reporting purposes, modelling purposes and reservoir sizing, it can help investigate if low pressure is caused by excess usage vs potentially a burst, customers can identify if they have a leak and review their usage, we are building district metered areas to conduct water balance and help identify areas of non-revenue water, during a supply outage and level 5 restrictions we used it to identify high users and install restrictors on their meters. Regards, Sammy

by Brendan Guiney Joined 02-08-2019 03:32 PM Posts 22

The Central NSW Water Loss Management Project contains some good metrics, many are which are relevant to a smart meter business case: https://www.centraljo.nsw.gov.au/content/uploads/CNSWJO_WaterManagement_C16.pdf Managing water loss and customer demand improves water security and defers future major capital investments in water security. Arguably, if you had 20% non-revenue water, and you could reduce that to 10%, then that is a 10% uplift in your water security with a non-build solution. You can quanitfy the NPV of deferring capital works as a financial benefit. Agree with Sammy on water restriction management, as this is a good risk management exercise that stretches out the time to water supply failure. The social and economic costs of a total water supply failure are very high. Another of our member councils succesfully quantified the costs of water supply failure in a business case for their water security augmentation grant application. I will share that offline. Brendan Guiney | Executive Officer, Water Directorate

by Brendan Guiney Joined 02-08-2019 03:32 PM Posts 22

Also forgot to add NSW Water conservation cost-benefit analysis guidelines, available at: https://water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/our-work/local-water-utilities/cost-benefit-analysis-guidelines As smart water meters are a water conservation tool, the guideline will be useful in quantifying benefits. Cheers Brendan Guiney | Executive Officer, Water Directorate

by tracey.hamer@midcoast.nsw.gov.au Joined 22-08-2019 01:40 PM Posts 7

Thanks Sammy, that's very helpful!

by tracey.hamer@midcoast.nsw.gov.au Joined 22-08-2019 01:40 PM Posts 7

Thank you!