Itron Signs New Contract in Azerbaijan for Gas Smart Payment Project

Itron, Inc. which is innovating the way utilities and cities manage energy and water, signed a contract to deploy 70,000 new gas prepayment meters to SOCAR Azerigas Production Union (PU), a part of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). This contract follows the deployment of Itron’s smart payment software and more than 1.3 million prepayment meters in Azerbaijan over the past 10 years to improve revenue collection and streamline utility operations.

This contract will include Itron’s new Gallus Pay prepayment meters, which are equipped with electronic temperature compensation (eTC), near-field communication for smartphones or smart cards and increased data granularity for improved customer service. SOCAR Azerigas PU will modernize its existing meter park stations with Itron’s robust STS meters, which will extend the use of prepayment to difficult to access areas.

“With these new meters, we have numerous vending possibilities, which will allow consumers to have more flexibility and convenience in paying and accessing gas,” said Mr. Akbar Hajiyev, managing director, SOCAR Azerigas PU. “We are excited to work with Itron to streamline our operations and provide reliable access to gas for our customers throughout the country.”

“We are thrilled to continue our long-term collaboration with SOCAR Azerigas PU to integrate new functionalities and services to transform their current infrastructure,” said Oscar Marquez, Itron vice president of sales, EMEA gas. “As the first utility to deploy our new Gallus Pay prepayment meters, SOCAR Azerigas PU will benefit from the meter’s unique communication and vending capabilities and will be empowered to better address the needs of customers in the Republic of Azerbaijan.”