Uzbekistan to install smart electricity meters in three regions.

President of Uzbekistan has approved a number of priority measures as part of transition to an automated system of accounting and control of electrical energy consumption and implementation of electricity metering system in Bukhoro, Samarqand and Jizzakh regions of Uzbekistan, with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank.

Earlier, the board of directors of the Asian Development Bank approved a $150 million loan to Uzbekistan to from ordinary capital resources with a maturity of 25 years, including a grace period of 5 years. The project is planned to be implemented within three years, from 2012 to 2014.

As part of the project the national electricity supplier will install modern, accurate and reliable digital devices with a high degree of protection for millions of users in Bukhoro, Samarqand and Jizzakh regions. The meters are working on an automated control system, which will reduce the unnecessary use of electricity and increase the income of electricity suppliers.

The new meters use smart two-way communication technology that gives customers more information about the used electricity. These technologies allow energy companies to read the meter from a distance and identify commercial losses. They also provide accurate information on the load.

Uzbekenergo staff will be taught to install and run the metering system, and will run an information campaign about the benefits of new meters and a billing system. In addition, the company until the end of April will provide the feasibility study in the authorized bodies of expertise and submit it for the approval to the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan. (Source: Uzbekistan Today Newspaper )