Nov 19th - TEPCO Smart Meter Communication System RFP released today

TEPCO Smart Meter Communication System RFP released today - details here:

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/corpinfo/procure/invited/pdf/d1_invit-e.pdf

Nov 16 - Panasonic To Team Up With Itron In Smart-Meter Business

Friday, November 16, 2012

Panasonic To Team Up With Itron In Smart-Meter Business

OSAKA (Nikkei)--Panasonic Corp. (6752) plans to break into the smart-meter business by joining hands with a U.S. maker, The Nikkei learned Thursday.

Panasonic is looking to package Itron Inc.'s smart meters with its own telecommunications devices to enable utilities to receive customers' electricity usage data remotely.  Selling the packages under its own brand name, Panasonic aims to generate roughly 20 billion yen in  annual revenue initially.

     

As a start, it plans to take part in bidding for smart meters that Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501)  is expected to start holding next year.  It is estimated that demand for smart meters will reach 70 million units in Japan alone.

     

Panasonic is bracing for a second straight year of 700 billion yen-plus net loss in the current year ending March.  Since the slump in the flat-panel television business is a major reason behind the massive losses, the company aims to lower its reliance on digital consumer electronics, as this product category presents intense price competition  with Asian rivals.  At the same time, the firm is looking to drive growth in smart meters and other business fields related to the environment and energy.

     

Panasonic and Itron will likely agree to form a business tie-up as early as next week.  The U.S. firm operates in 130 countries and controls roughly 20% of the global smart-meter market.  Panasonic also hopes to expand its smart-meter business outside Japan by leveraging the  tie-up.

Full info on Nikkei web site http://e.nikkei.com/e/app/fr/gateway/rss_news.aspx?URL=/e/ac/tnks/Nni20121115D1511F01.htm