LIBERTY LAKE, WA, USA, JUNE 7, 2017 -- Itron Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI), a world-leading technology and services company dedicated to the resourceful use of energy and water, has signed a contract with the Tonga Water Board, the Kingdom of Tonga's government-owned water utility, to deliver its OpenWay Riva™ IoT solution for water. Tonga is unifying electricity and water management with a single Itron solution to better manage island resources. Building on the Kingdom's success with its electricity system, the Tonga Water Board will use the same network and new smart water meters to reduce water losses associated with leaks, capture lost revenue due to non-payment and improve customer service.
Located in the South Pacific just over 3,000 miles east of Australia, the Kingdom of Tonga is home to more than 100,000 people. Tonga Water Board will take advantage of the existing OpenWay Riva network utilized by Tonga Power Limited (TPL) on Tonga's main island of Tongatapu to connect with OpenWay Riva-enabled static water meters. In collaboration with TPL, the utility will also utilize Itron managed services for network management and maintenance for water operations.
A combination of old infrastructure, inaccurate consumption measurement and unpaid invoices has resulted in high levels of non-revenue water losses in some areas of Tongatapu island, reducing the utility's revenue intake. With the collection and analysis of more detailed data over the network, Tonga Water Board can measure water consumption more accurately, detect leaks faster and empower its customers to monitor their consumption on a continuous basis. By utilizing the same unified network infrastructure to address both energy and water challenges on the island and partnering with Itron to operate the system, the Kingdom of Tonga is strengthening its return on investment and accelerating time to value.
"By utilizing the existing OpenWay Riva network on Tongatapu island for water, we are becoming a truly smart island. We look forward to extending the benefits of an open standards network to our water operations so we can better account for water losses while improving service and reliability for our customers," said Aisake Tuiono, chairman of the Smart Metering Committee for the Common Utilities Board. "Itron is a known leader in the industry, helping utilities efficiently manage energy and water resources. We are glad to collaborate with such a leader to improve our operations and reduce water losses."
"This has been a truly collaborative effort in which Tonga is demonstrating the power of Itron's OpenWay Riva IoT solution across energy and water. Through a comprehensive resource management program that addresses challenges in energy, water and smart communities, Tonga is showing that it is both smart and connected," said Paul Nelsen, Itron vice president for Electricity in the Asia-Pacific.
"Itron is excited to be a part of this visionary smart island project, which will demonstrate how technology can help utilities better manage water and electricity resources and create a more resourceful world," said Dominique Lerouge, Itron vice president for Water and Heat in the Asia-Pacific.
About Itron
Itron is a world-leading technology and services company dedicated to the resourceful use of energy and water. We provide comprehensive solutions that measure, manage and analyze energy and water. Our broad product portfolio includes electricity, gas, water and thermal energy measurement devices and control technology; communications systems; software; as well as managed and consulting services. With thousands of employees supporting nearly 8,000 customers in more than 100 countries, Itron applies knowledge and technology to better manage energy and water resources. Together, we can create a more resourceful world. Join us:www.itron.com.
