To determine the quantity of power a client can receive and to turn off the power supply to certain clients at an individual level, the Hi-Tech Engineering Industry under Metal & Engineering Corporation (MetEC) has began supplying the Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) with locally manufactured electric metres termed It-Plus.
According to Tena Kurunde Deputy General Manager of MetEC, each and every meter manufactured by the Hi-Tech Engineering using inputs from sister companies, Ethio Plastic Industries, Metal Fabrication Industries and Hibret Manufacturing Industry, is controlled by a remote control station.
Currently, the EEU has two million clients connected to the national grid. The MetEC an electro-mechanical contractor of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in conjunction with Hi-Tech has supplied 10,000 transformers for the EEU and plans to establish a smart grid system at a national level. When the company starts manufacturing at its full capacity, it will manufacture 1,200 electric meters on a daily basis.
“The main advantages of the electric meter is that it saves electric power, especially for industries,” said Bitweded Gebrealise, chief executive officer of the EEU Wire Business.
The new meters will enable power redistribution in times of power shortage and technical problems, noted to Berihu Gidey (Leut), general manger of Hi-Tech Industries. The system also has intelligence value, he said, as power blackouts could easily be achieved at a national level if the need arises.
Hi-Tech was established in 2011 as one of the sister companies under the MetEC. The Company manufactures electronic and electromechanical technology products and gives services of Communication and surveillance system for defence and police forces including Ministry of Defence and Federal Police. The deal was signed in 2003 between the Hi-Tech and EEU for the supply of the electric meters. The MetEC launched the meters at a ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel on Thursday, August 21, 2104.
It-Plus have home and industrial types, with the former selling for 2,500 Br and the latter for 13,000 Br. The company supplied samples to the EEU, which were successfully tested, and the first batch of the meters will be delivered soon, according to Berihu.
