EEC, New Caledonia commences Cashpower CUTS Meter Pilot
06.01.03

Early in December EEC (Electricite et Eau de Caledonie) in the French speaking  Island of New Caledonia, implemented a 6 month Pilot system with 50 Cashpower CUTS Meters.

In the CUTS version of the Cashpower meter, the meter is credited with currency rather than kWh. All the tariff information is stored in the meter and rates and standing charges are deducted within the meter in real time. Because of EEC's extremely complex tariff structure, the CUTS meter was the only prepayment meter option available which could accommodate EEC's requirements.

Because the tariffs are held in the meter, these have to be updated each time the tariff changes. So long as the new tariff is known well in advance, the update is achieved by transferring the new tariff information as part of the customer's voucher when they purchase electricity credit.

In cases where the tariff must be updated urgently, the tariff is achieved via a technician visiting the meters  and using a handheld computer.

Under the project management and translation skills of EEC's Pierre Van Mai, staff from all aspects of the company's activities attended training and showed a commendable enthusiasm and interest.

Over the next few months EEC and their pilot customers will put CUTS through its paces in to ensure that it performs to their specific requirements on a day to day basis.

Following a successful trial, the system will be expanded to incorporate multiple vending sites utilising an island wide WAN (wide area network).