Basic Agreement Signed on the Introduction of Automatic LPG Meter Reading Service, Using Chubu Electric Power's Smart Meter Communications Network

Enegene Co., Ltd. (Naka-ku, Hamamatsu city; President Genuemon Fujita; "Enegene") and Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (Higashi-ku, Nagoya city; President Kingo Hayashi; "Chubu Electric Power") are pleased to announce that they signed a basic agreement today after reaching consensus on Enegene’s adoption of the automatic gas meter reading service that makes use of Chubu Electric Power's smart meter communications network.

As Japan's population decreases and ages, information technology advances, and customer needs diversify further, expectations are high that utilizing ICT and IoT will reduce labor required for meter reading and lead to the creation of new services.

Enegene has been utilizing telephone lines in some supply areas (in Shizuoka prefecture) to remotely obtain LPG usage, gas leakage as well as other information and data about alerts and gas residual volumes. The company has also employed this technology to remotely shut off, restore and perform other LPG meter operations.

Pursuant to this Basic Agreement, both parties will strive to improve customer service and reduce labor involved in meter reading operations as they proceed in FY2021 to install wireless communication terminals on LP gas meters and implement automatic meter reading and other services utilizing Chubu Electric Power's smart meter communications network in Enegene’s service area principally west of the Fuji River.

Chubu Electric Power will continue to help LPG, city gas, and water service operators adopt automatic meter reading, using its smart meter communications network, as part of the community support infrastructure business designed to contribute to resolving social issues.