Gila River to Convert to Smart Meters Using SmartSynch

by Sari Krieger, Dow Jones Clean Technology Insight

Chandler, Ariz.-based Gila River Indian Community Utility Authority signed a deal with SmartSynch Inc. for the Indian reservation's commercial metering.

The start-up utility is in the process of taking over the 2,700 meters on the Gila River Indian Reservation from the federal government, as well as providing any new meters needed. The plan is to convert all meters to smart meters, said William Pezalla, general manager and chief executive for Gila River, in an interview with Clean Technology Insight.

Pezalla said the utility started with a small 40-meter SmartSynch project two years ago, managed by neighboring utility Tempe, Ariz.-based Salt River Project, and Gila River chose to move forward now because of the results seen during this time.

Pezalla said he also liked Jackson, Miss.-based SmartSynch's use of existing cellular phone networks.

SmartSynch recently teamed up with AT&T Inc. to use the telecommunications company's public wireless network for smart-grid communications instead of having utilities build their own networks. The partnership is a way for utilities to more quickly and affordably obtain smart-grid communications, according to SmartSynch.

In March, SmartSynch and AT&T announced a new pricing structure for utilities to use the company's network for smart-grid communications. This new pricing makes it more affordable for utilities to roll out the technology for many more residential and small commercial users.

"Our reservation is fairly rural, a lot of the [smart meter] systems require that you put in a lot of radio towers and it wasn't economical for the amount of customers we have and the amount of area that we'd have to cover," Pezalla said. "SmartSynch meters work through existing infrastructure. It was an easy decision. We know the quality of their data is high and the communications infrastructure already exists."

Pezalla said the utility has set aside about $500,000 this year for smart-meter projects.

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