TEPCO Seeks Ideas Ahead of Full Rollout of Next-Generation Electricity Meters

Full-Scale Introduction to Begin in 2013!

TEPCO Seeks Ideas Ahead of Full-Scale Smart Meter Rollout

A sudden announcement for everyone: the electricity meter, a fixture in every home, typically located outside your entrance or in the garden, where a utility company employee checks the readings once a month. That meter is about to be replaced. According to Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the new meters will be equipped with communication functions, display real-time usage and electricity costs, and boast a host of other advanced features. What's more, you now have the opportunity to voice your opinions on its design and operation.

Text by TANAKA Junko (OPENERS)

Idea Submission Deadline: Friday, April 20

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) will commence the introduction of its "smart meter," a high-function, low-cost digital electricity meter developed since 2006, in 2013. This initiative is part of the smart grid concept, spearheaded by the government, aiming to create a society that efficiently utilizes precious energy resources. Over the next four years, the plan is to transition 80% of all electricity meters to smart meters. TEPCO's rollout plan targets all of its users, estimated to be approximately 27 million households.

A smart meter is a next-generation electricity meter equipped with communication capabilities. It can exchange data with the utility company and control connected home appliances, offering functions unimaginable with conventional "analog" electricity meters. Previously, usage and electricity costs were only understood on a monthly basis based on utility company notifications; now, these can be checked in real-time on-site (readings are updated every 30 minutes).

However, the most significant feature of the smart meter is its ability to make electricity "visible," enabling more effective and proactive energy conservation. Furthermore, by allowing for finer control over electricity supply, it holds potential for application with natural energy sources, whose supply can be inherently unstable.

Ahead of the full-scale introduction of these smart meters, TEPCO is currently soliciting a wide range of opinions and ideas, from design and specifications to operational aspects such as cost reduction. The submission period runs until Friday, April 20. There are no specific qualifications or requirements for submission. According to a TEPCO spokesperson, this kind of public call for ideas is unusual. Your "precious vote" might just be the catalyst that propels Japanese society significantly forward towards a smart grid. If you feel inspired, why not take this opportunity to make your voice heard?

Call for Ideas Regarding Smart Meters
Submission Period | Wednesday, March 21 - Friday, April 20
How to Submit | Fill out the prescribed form in Japanese or English (with a Japanese summary attached)
Submission Address | Submit via email to: tepcosmartcom@tepco.co.jp
URL | http://www.tepco.co.jp/cc/press/2012/12032104-j.html

Inquiries
Tokyo Electric Power Company
Tel. 03-6373-7741
Reception Hours | Weekdays 9:00 - 17:00