Elster, provider of electricity, gas and water measurement and control solutions, has announced that its EnergyAxis Smart Grid solution has been selected by Bolivar Energy Authority in Tennessee. BEA (News - Alert) will deploy the solution for an advanced metering infrastructure system to drive optimized operational efficiencies. The advanced metering infrastructure system will allow BEA's electric customers to improve their energy usage management which in turn can help them reduce energy costs.

BEA is expecting to install Elster Smart Meters in the 11,000 households and businesses that are serviced by it. The utility's project is scheduled for completion by September 2012. BEA will effectively improve its entire electric infrastructure by installing the Energy Axis (News - Alert) solution and Smart meters from Elster. Furthermore, it is expecting to deliver pricing and usage information to its customers which will help them improve, monitor, and control their energy usage and costs.

 In a release, John Fortune, president, and CEO at BEA, said that, "We chose Elster EnergyAxis' field-proven technology to deliver the benefits of the Smart Grid to our customers. With Elster's experience across the TVPPA, the company was the only choice for our AMI deployment. Elster EnergyAxis will serve as the foundation for a Smart Grid project that will eventually feature upgrades to our billing infrastructure, further helping our customers control energy consumption and costs.”

The EnergyAxis solution from Elster will enable BEA to drive deployment of advanced metering and communications technologies that will support the utility's mission to deliver more information and future payment policies for its customers. BEA's service objective to help its customers enhance energy consumption and costs will be met by the adoption of smart grid solutions.

Mark Munday, president, and CEO of Elster Solutions, said that, "Elster's work with TVA members such as BEA is helping the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association achieve its mission to meet Smart Grid initiatives and deliver value to customers. Elster looks forward to working with BEA as the utility honors its commitment to deliver greater electric grid efficiency to its customers. Elster continues to work with leading utilities across the globe to make Smart Grid benefits more tangible to energy consumers.”