Table of Contents
OVERVIEW
KEY MESSAGES
- Smart metering technology continues to be a hot topic in Australia
- A range of smart metering projects are already underway in Australia
- The overall architecture of AMI spans networks, hardware and software
- A range of technology-related issues are emerging
- A range of delivery and customer processes are enhanced by smart meters
- The cultural change required for AMI rollouts should not be underestimated
- The competitive landscape is continuing to shift as vendors jostle for
opportunities
MARKET OPPORTUNITY
- The Australian utilities sector is growing under national regulation
- The ecosystem is heavily regulated by AEMO and its components
- But that is not the end of regulatory bodies
- The overall utilities sector is still showing signs of growth within
Australia
- Electricity prices are continuing to rise for Australian consumers
- The Australian utility value chain is typically structured around states
- New South Wales is the largest electricity sector in Australia
- Victoria is heavily deregulated
- Western Australia is independent of the NEM
- Queensland is a highly energy intensive economy
- South Australia has just one distributor
- Tasmania maintains a single distributor and retailer model
- The Northern Territory is dominated by Power and Water Corp
- The Australian Capital Territory relies primarily upon ActewAGL
- Smart metering technology continues to be a hot topic in Australia
- The basic structure of smart metering implementations is network-centric
- A range of benefits are driving smart metering investments
- Smart meters and smart grids are often confused
- Smart meters are part of a natural evolution for electricity networks
- A range of smart metering projects are already underway in Australia
- National guidance is being driven by the Council Of Australian
Governments
- Utilities have been looking at smart metering for some time
- Current projects in Victoria
- Current projects in New South Wales
- Current projects in Queensland
- Current projects in South Australia - ETSA Utilities
- Current projects in Western Australia
TECHNOLOGY EVOLUTION
- The overall architecture of AMI spans networks, hardware and software
- Conceptual data flows highlight the key requirements of smart meter
implementations
- The full architecture can be complex
- The in-home meter is the most desired method of interaction for consumers
- A range of technology-related issues are emerging
- Payment for AMI projects will be shared by value chain partners
- Distributors should be responsible for holding meter data
- Cloud computing is not expected to have a significant role in the smart
meter market
- The National Broadband Network may deliver future benefits but its
impact now is low
CUSTOMER IMPACT: SMART ENABLEMENT
- A range of delivery and customer processes are enhanced by smart meters
- Meter accuracy has been an issue for utilities for some time now
- Peak demand can be better managed to reduce overall costs for utility
companies
- The cultural change required for AMI rollouts should not be underestimated
- AMI will affect almost all employees within a utility company
- Infrastructure networks are being opened for the first time
- Smart meter assets will need to be treated differently
- Business processes are going to need refinement
- Those consumers already using smart meters are finding benefit
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
- Services-centric vendors
- Accenture
- Bilfinger Berger Services Australasia (BBSAA)
- CSC
- HP
- IBM
- Logica
- UXC
- Software-centric vendors
- Communications and network-centric vendors
- Alcatel Lucent
- Cisco
- Silver Spring Networks (SSN)
GO TO MARKET
- Action points for enterprises
- Action points for technology vendors
APPENDIX
- Definitions
- Methodology
- Datamonitor MCI Index methodology
- Further reading
- Ask the analyst
- Datamonitor consulting
- Disclaimer
TABLES
- Table: Regulated electricity price increases by state 2007 - 10
- Table: Organizational definitions
- Table: Technology definitions
FIGURES
- Figure: Australian National Electricity Market
- Figure: Australian utility market size 2007 - 12 ($m)
- Figure: Distribution of Australian utility market size, 2007
- Figure: Quarterly index of Australian electricity prices
- Figure: Australian state electricity competitiveness
- Figure: Basic smart metering technology structure
- Figure: Australian respondents that have actively tried to reduce energy
consumption in last 12 months
- Figure: Consumer attempts to reduce energy usage
- Figure: Peak usage is an issue for utilities
- Figure: Smart grids have broader functionality than AMI alone
- Figure: Australian National Smart Metering Program structure
- Figure: Conceptual data flows for smart metering implementations
- Figure: Smart metering technology architecture
- Figure: Functional areas of opportunities for technology vendors in AMI
projects
- Figure: Preferences for consumer interaction with smart meter information
- Figure: Cloud computing as a service delivery option
- Figure: Business process impacts created by AMI implementations
- Figure: Meter reading accuracy is increased
- Figure: Improvements created by more frequent meter reads
- Figure: Peak energy comes at a greater cost
- Figure: Time of use tariffs can reduce peak demand
- Figure: NSMP BPPWG approach to AMI-driven process change within utilities
- Figure: An example process flow drafted by NSMP BPPWG
- Figure: Consumers are changing their habits thanks to smart meters
- Figure: MCI assessment scale
- Figure: MCI Assessment Framework
- Figure: MCI Scales
- Figure: Scale for MCI Assessment, Effectiveness of Regulator
- Figure: Scale for MCI Assessment, Ease of Third Party Access
- Figure: Scale for MCI Assessment, Pricing Regime
- Figure: Scale for MCI Assessment, Wholesale Fragmentation
- Figure: Retail Fragmentation
- Figure: Scale for MCI Assessment, Traded Market Maturity
- Figure: Scale for MCI Assessment, Access to Market Information
- Figure: Scale for MCI Assessment, Consumer Representation
- Figure: Scale for MCI Assessment, Propensity to Switch
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