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BC Hydro selects Corix, Capgemini for smart meters launch

Nelson Daily Staff
By Nelson Daily Staff
January 26th, 2011

Two companies have been signed to launch the province’s Smart Metering Program across B.C. later this year — with a regional office announced for Cranbrook.

B.C.-based Corix Utilities will install the 1.8 million meters to homes and businesses across the province.

International company Capgemini will provide project implementation and technology integration services.

Corix is based in Vancouver and will be responsible for deploying and installing the smart meters across the province. Their contract will result in an estimated $30-40 million in direct wage benefits in B.C. through the hiring and training of a labour force of over 350 to complete the project.

As part of their plan, Corix will open seven regional offices in Cranbrook, Surrey, Prince George, Terrace, Victoria, Burnaby and Kamloops to support the execution of the program.

Corix has performed over 10 million meter exchanges and other device installations and retrofits for various gas, water and electric utilities, transitioning from traditional meter reading to automation. The contract is worth approximately $73 million over the next two years.

Capgemini will provide project management services and systems integration, along with the information technology and telecommunications to support the integration of the smart metering system into BC Hydro business functions such as outage management and customer billing.

Capgemini has Canadian offices in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The three-year contract is worth approximately $65 million

What’s next

BC Hydro is looking for potential companies for the smart meter manufacturing and the meter data management system.  BC Hydro plans to announce the successful vendors in the coming months. 

Smart meter deployment across the province will begin in mid-2011 and conclude at the end of 2012. Early this year, customers will begin to receive notification that meters are coming to their community and information about what they can expect.

How it will work

For most customers, installation will be simple and will only take a matter of minutes.

Then, in mid-2012, customers will receive information about in-home feedback options that will provide them with the ability to monitor their energy use in near-real-time, helping them save energy and money.

About Corix

The Corix Group of Companies – based in Vancouver, B.C. – specializes in providing field metering services, products and utility solutions for sustainable infrastructure in the water, wastewater and energy sectors for clients across North America.

It has over 2,000 employees in 60 locations across North America. Corix is a private company whose primary owners are BC Investment Management Corporation and CAI Capital Management Inc., two large and stable members of the Canadian investment community who specialize in public pension funds. Please visit www.corix.com for more information.

About Capgemini

Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, enables its clients to transform and perform through technologies.

Capgemini provides its clients with insights and capabilities that boost their freedom to achieve superior results through a unique way of working.

Capgemini reported 2009 global revenues of EUR 8.4 billion (approximately USD $11.6 billion) and employs 100,000 people worldwide.

 

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