ATLANTA, Nov. 3, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Cost reduction continues to be the biggest benefit of automated meter reading (AMR) applications, yet the cost of these systems remains the biggest obstacle to more utilities implementing AMR, Chartwell reports in its latest state-of-the-AMR industry research report.
Vendors and other industry advocates have pushed the numerous benefits of AMR in recent years as those systems have improved and shown their worth to pioneering utilities. Especially true of the new advanced "two-way" technologies, the touted benefits include the reduction in costs not only associated with meter reading but also distribution system monitoring and improved customer service. Forty-five percent of utilities interviewed actually say cost savings is the primary driver for AMR, while other reasons such as access to difficult-to-read meters are directly related to savings.
Still, when asked to identify the primary obstacle to implementing AMR on all or the majority of their meters, two-thirds of utilities cited either the inability to justify a business case for AMR systems or the lack of capital funds as their main hindrance to moving forward.
These findings and others are revealed in The Chartwell AMR Report 2005, 10th Edition, an annual publication that gauges the biggest issues facing the industry. It is based on exclusive surveys of metering officials at more than 100 utility companies serving customers in the U.S. and Canada. The 2005 edition reports on seven key points identified through Chartwell's exclusive industry surveys.
Those key points include analysis of the expected growth of advanced metering applications, information on the business case surrounding AMR and a look at the current AMR market, with historical analysis and growth projections. Chartwell, for example, predicts advanced metering will grow in the coming years, buoyed by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, signed into law in August by President Bush, and advances already undertaken in several states.
In addition to the industry analysis, individual surveys that include numerous data points exclusive to each utility respondent are also included in the 266-page electronic publication. A sortable, searchable database is also provided.
The Chartwell AMR Report 2005, 10th Edition, is available only to members of Chartwell's metering research and information series. The Metering Research Series includes approximately seven research reports, monthly news reporting and analysis and other publications. For additional information on this Chartwell research series, please contact Bill Grist at bgrist@chartwellinc.com or (800) 432-5879.