Omsk invests $600K to expand smart electricity metering across key districts

Omsk is expanding its Automated Commercial Electricity Metering System (AC EMS) with a new 54-million-ruble contract. The latest deployment will cover the Southern, Northern, and Left-Bank districts of the city’s electrical grid. This follows years of gradual rollouts aimed at reducing energy theft and improving billing efficiency.

The city’s push for automated metering began in 2015 when OmskElectro first introduced the AC EMS. Since then, the system has seen regular updates, with peak funding between 2019 and 2020—hundreds of millions of rubles were allocated each year. The latest tender, worth around $600,000, does not limit installations to homes, hinting at possible inclusion of commercial properties.

Local manufacturers have supported the project from the start. Omsk’s MIR Research and Production Association produces smart meters compatible with automated control systems. Meanwhile, in 2019, the city’s Popov Radio Plant patented a gas meter with remote monitoring, showing Omsk’s broader interest in smart utility technology. This time, most new meters will go into the Kirovsky administrative district. The AC EMS allows remote disconnection of customers with unpaid bills and helps detect electricity theft more effectively.

The 54-million-ruble contract marks another step in Omsk’s long-term plan to modernise its grid. With local production of smart meters and a system designed to cut losses from theft, the city continues to invest in automated energy management. The latest phase will extend coverage to more districts, including potential commercial sites.