Southern California Gas to install 6 million smart meters

Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) has selected Capgemini to support its 6 million smart meter upgrade – a first for a large North American, gas-only distribution company.

The work is planned to extend to the end of December 2013, with an initial “go live” date of October 2012. The mass smart meter installation is expected to start in Q1 of 2013 and be completed by mid-2017.

Capgemini will provide SoCalGas with a spectrum of advanced meter project services. including developing processes for and staffing a project management office, developing detailed technical and business requirements for the project, managing multiple system releases and developing project strategies for the test and organizational change management aspects of the project. In addition, Capgemini will provide support to the systems integration, architecture, testing, and deployment efforts.

We’re delighted to have the opportunity to work with a leading utility like Southern California Gas Company on a project of such scale, with such potential,” commented Perry Stoneman, vice president and global leader of Capgemini Smart Energy Services.

With each landmark program, we gather more skills and experience to analyze and share for the benefit of our global utility clients.

The installation will involve attaching a wireless communication device to the existing gas meter, with only a small number of meters expected, due principally to age and compatibility issues, to be replaced in their entirety.

The program is expected to yield benefits of over $3.5 billion over the next 25 years.

A technical advisory panel with representatives from the California PUC and Energy Commission and other experts has been providing advice and input to the project.

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