Demonstration experiment of remote open/close water gate valves with electricity smart meter communication network, Komoro City, Nagano

Komoro City, Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. ("Chubu Electric Power"), DK Corporation, Nippo Valve Co., Ltd. ("Nippo Valve"), Hino Engineering, Inc. ("Hino Engineering") and MIZU MIRAI KOMORO Co.,Ltd. ("MIZU MIRAI KOMORO") have decided to conduct a demonstration experiment of remote opening and closing of water gate valves using the electricity smart meter communication network (the "Demonstration").

Komoro City has a chronic shortage of meter readers and other personnel mainly due to a declining population. In addition, during the winter season, it is difficult to read meters due to snow accumulation, which delays the detection of water leaks in residences caused by freezing and other factors, resulting in a decline in the effective water ratio (Note).

Under such circumstances, Komoro City, through its water service operator, MIZU MIRAI KOMORO, conducted a demonstration experiment from December 2023 to November 2024 on automatic water meter reading using the electricity smart meter communication network provided by Chuden Telemetering LLC, a subsidiary of Chubu Electric Power.

In the Demonstration, the operability, effectiveness, and other aspects of remote opening and closing of water gate valves will be verified throughout the year, including winter, by linking the communication technology of the water smart meter installed for automatic water meter reading and the electricity smart meter communication network with the water smart valve developed by Nippo Valve and Hino Engineering, which can open and close water gate valves remotely.

The six parties will strive to quickly establish a remote open/close technology that will remove the need for on-site dispatch at the beginning and end of water supply contracts or in the event of water leakage at the customer's residence, thereby solving problems in administrative services, such as eliminating staff shortages and improving operational efficiency, and increasing convenience for water supply users.

(Note) The ratio of the water volume to be supplied to the water volume received as a charge

1. Demonstration experiment period

March 2024 - March 2026

2. Demonstration test location

6 public facilities in the city

3. Demonstration test items

(1) Confirmation of the operability and feasibility of the water smart valve
(2) Identification of issues such as functions and specifications for product commercialization
(3) Evaluation of energy efficiency and battery life
(4) Verification of durability in a staging environment