Unified Smart Metering System (USMS) agreement has been signed recently for the commercial rollout of the Smart Electric Meter and Smart Water Meter projects, targeting more than 250,000 households nationwide within five years.
The project marked a new milestone for the sultanate’s digital transformation initiative in a move to improve the level and quality of services, and infrastructures and bring technological innovation to Bruneian homes.
USMS is a unified smart solution for both water and electricity into a single account with the aim to encourage and drive more efficient supply and use of utilities in the country.
The objective is also to enhance the overall experience of end-users receiving utility services from the utility providers, said DST Network in a statement.
The project symbolises the strong commitment and collaboration between government sectors Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE), Department of Electrical Services (DES) and Department of Water Services (DWS) and government-linked companies; Berakas Power Company (BPC) and DST Network, the subsidiary companies of Darussalam Assets.
The USMS has a two-way communication module to send and receive near real-time data from the Smart Electrical Meter using 3G/4G SIM Cards.
Smart meters are the next generation of electricity and water – a gateway to digitalising electric and water services to the community.
“It is part and parcel to the nation’s striving efforts towards fulfilling the Wawasan Brunei 2035 objective with hopes that the project will help overcome the long-term challenges in ensuring affordable, secure and sustainable utility supplies in the country,” said the company.
Smart metering provides end users with information on available credit balance, perform instant top-ups and view top-up history, allowing them to better manage their utility consumption and track consumption pattern while managing financial commitments.
Moreover, end users can access data at www.usms.com.bn and the mobile application ‘USMS’ available on the App store and Google Play.
Other touch points include authorised reseller Incomm and are available at all branches nationwide. Future touch points will be available via mobile application eDealer, banks and telcos.
The agreement was signed by MoFE Deputy Permanent Secretary (Fiscal and Corporate), Hajah Chairani Haji Sulaiman, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Energy, Prime Minister’s Office Haji Azhar Haji Yahya in his capacity as the Director of BPC and DST Network Director Edzwan Zukri Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Adanan.
Meanwhile, a separate Statement of Work was also inked between DST Network, DES and DWS.
DES was represented by Director, Legal and Compliance Division Mohammad Nizam Ismi and DWS by Permanent Secretary (Infrastructure, Housing and Professional) at the Ministry of Development Hj Amer Hishamuddin Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Zakaria.
BPC and DST Network were represented by their respective directors, Haji Azhar Haji Yahya and Edzwan Zukri Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Adanan.
In attendance to witness the ceremony was Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office YB Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Halbi Haji Mohd Yussof.
Also in attendance were Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy YB Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, Minister of Development YB Dato Seri Setia Haji Muhammad Juanda Haji Abdul Rashid, Minister of Transport and Info-communications YB Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha and Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy (Economy) YB Dato Seri Paduka Haji Khairuddin Haji Abdul Hamid and Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy (Fiscal) Pg Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Zety Sufina Pg Dato Paduka Hj Sani.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
