Washington-based Itron is modernising electricity, gas and water infrastructure in Gainesville, Florida, in a deal with Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU).

The aim is to improve data collection accuracy and operational efficiency using Itron’s IoT network offering.

GRU is a multi-service utility owned by the city of Gainesville. It is modernising its infrastructure with Itron’s multi-purpose IoT network, including smart Gen5 500W water and 500G gas communication modules and Riva distributed intelligence enabled electric smart meters.

The utility will also take advantage of Itron Enterprise Edition meter data management as a software-as-a-service to manage meter and sensor data. These should allow GRU to improve operational efficiency and data collection accuracy and enhance customer service. The utility plans to deploy Itron’s technology across Gainesville and surrounding areas.

Itron’s technology should let GRU execute its data management vision and strategy as it undergoes digital transformation and upgrades its metering infrastructure. Upon completion, GRU’s electric, gas and water operations will leverage Itron’s multi-purpose communications network to receive more accurate data, enabling the utility to act on insights that will help improve service reliability and reduce operational costs.

Through Itron’s technology, data are collected electronically daily as opposed to manually every month. This eliminates the need and costs associated with physically accessing homes and businesses to read meters. In addition, the technology can help GRU’s customers lower their utility bills since they can now monitor usage from an online account.

“Our core business principle at GRU is to seek ways to enhance our customers’ experience and reduce the impact of our operations on the environment,” said Chad Parker, energy measurement and regulation manager at GRU. “Modernising our infrastructure with Itron’s IIoT network gives us the opportunity to streamline meter reading and improve services to our customers such as providing accurate and reliable billing. This lays the foundation for future applications like distribution automation, street lighting controls and other smart-city advanced capabilities.”

John Marcolini, senior vice president at Itron, added: “Working together with GRU, the fifth largest municipal electric utility in Florida, to deploy Itron’s unified IIoT will enable the utility to enhance the quality, safety and reliability of the services that they delivery to their customers. We look forward to working together with GRU to meet the changing demands in energy and water service delivery and better manage the planet’s most precious resources.”

Itron lets utilities and cities safely, securely and reliably deliver critical infrastructure to communities in more than 100 countries. Its portfolio of smart networks, software, services, meters and sensors helps better manage electricity, gas and water resources.