Urbanization is one of the most important phenomena today. Today, 54% of people worldwide live in cities, and it is expected that their growth will continue to grow exponentially. In this sense, environmental, social and economic sustainability is a necessity to be able to keep up with the accelerated pace in which our cities expand, and to be able to support the resources we need to live in them.
The construction of smart cities is an alternative to address the challenges of urbanization, and that is through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), we can develop, implement and promote the best sustainable development practices. This is a path in which we are progressing more and more, thanks to the technological innovations to which we citizens are having access, and those being put at the service of the cities, thus allowing us to optimize the infrastructure, services, be more efficient, and improve coexistence and the quality of life of all.
One of these technological innovations offers the possibility of monitoring how much energy you consume in your home not only at the end of the month, but even daily. This is Smart Metering, a technological solution that incorporates new measuring equipment, telecommunications infrastructure and central systems for data analysis that allow a flow of information in two ways, opening the possibility to more and better services, optimizing the operation of electrical networks and contributing to improving reliability, safety and quality of service.
At Enel Colombia, we have been pioneers in introducing this technology in the country, in order to analyze, diagnose, measure and distribute household energy consumption in a more effective and easier way, and at the same time optimize our commercial operation and offer a product portfolio according to the needs and profiles of our customers. This is how between 2016 and 2017 we installed more than 42 thousand smart meters, and by 2018 we will increase this to 80 thousand.
The implementation of this technology is the beginning of a new relationship between the customer and the company, allowing people to become relevant and active players in the management and efficient use of energy.
How is a smart meter different from a traditional one?
It provides updated and detailed information on the energy consumption of your home or business, identifying the time and place of highest consumption. Additionally, it records and notifies irregularities that normally need the support of a technician to detect them.
