Case Study: Horizon Power achieves smarter prepayment metering and customer debt management with Itron

Horizon Power Selects Itron to Deploy Multi-Application Advanced Metering Network Supporting Prepayment

Horizon Power, a government-owned utility serving regional and remote parts of Western Australia, needed to replace its aging card-based prepayment meters after they were no longer being manufactured. It also had to meet new electricity code requirements around prepayment, including restrictions on disconnection hours and providing customers with detailed consumption and charge history. To address this, Horizon Power turned to Itron’s multi-application IPv6 advanced metering network.

Itron provided the wireless communications platform for the AMI deployment, enabling Horizon Power to support prepayment through smart meters, SMS alerts, and remote switching between prepayment and post-payment billing. Working with SmartGridCIS and Landis+Gyr, Horizon Power piloted the solution in 45 homes, then expanded it across seven communities and ultimately to more than 30 Aboriginal communities, deploying approximately 1,000 advanced prepayment meters. The program has been highly successful, with more than 90% of customers in participating communities choosing prepayment, while also helping Horizon Power reduce debt, improve cash flow, and automate meter reads and reconnect/disconnect processes.

Horizon Power

Frank Tudor

Managing Director