Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (NYSE:SSNI), a leading networking platform and solutions provider for smart energy networks, today announced a partnership with Metrix, a leading metering service provider, to leverage the Silver Spring networking platform to deliver smart metering-as-a-service to retail energy providers. The first joint deployment between Silver Spring and Metrix will be for Counties Power, a lines company serving more than 37,000 customers in New Zealand’s North Island. Metrix, a division of Mighty River Power, has successfully deployed more than 330,000 smart meters in the greater Auckland area and is expanding into other areas to meet the increasing demand for smart metering services. Counties Power is leveraging Silver Spring’s Gen4 networking technology for smart metering and smart grid deployments. In New Zealand’s disaggregated energy market, lines companies oversee energy distribution while energy retailers are responsible for deploying smart meters to end customers. Counties Power and Metrix will partner to utilise Silver Spring’s networking platform and UtilityIQ™ head-end software to deliver smart metering-as-a-service to their energy retailer clients. “Metrix is proud to be partnering with Silver Spring Networks to deliver advanced metering-as-a-service to retailers in the Counties Power network,” said Tim O'Halloran, General Manager, Metrix. “Silver Spring’s Gen4 technology is a proven platform and enables our retail customers to deliver comprehensive energy information to consumers so they can better understand their usage and, in turn, control their bills.” Counties Power is also expected to utilise Silver Spring’s platform to improve the reliability and performance of its network, enable faster outage detection and restoration, and deliver improved power quality to its customers. On the demand side, Counties Power’s customers will be able to take greater control of their electricity consumption and their bills through the latest smart grid technology. “Counties Power looks forward to using the Silver Spring and Metrix solution to improve the reliability and consistency of service for our customers,” said Neil Simmonds, CEO, Counties Power. “Counties Power will also use the platform and its new smart meters to minimise future network capital costs and, therefore, prices over the next decade.”
