New metering system will make life easier for Vattenfall's electricity customers

New metering system will make life easier for Vattenfall's electricity customers Vattenfall has begun the procurement of 300 000 remote electricity meters. In the first phase, 50 000 meters will be purchased, installed and commissioned during the year. This is part of Vattenfall's extensive Swedish customer service programme. One of the aims of this programme is to do away with the preliminary debiting of customers. The procurement covers the supply and installation of a new metering system comprising approximately 300 000 remote electricity meters. Some 50 000 of these will be installed during 2003. These new meters will be installed in the premises of around 300 000 house owners or other major private customers throughout Sweden. Apart from the meters themselves, equipment for communication between the meters and a central compilation and control system will also be procured. "This marks the beginning of Vattenfall's new customer service programme. The programme aims to make life simpler and more convenient for Vattenfall's 900 000 customers in Sweden. Preliminary debiting and payment in advance will be done away with. Other measures include simpler invoices, simpler payment routines and new price models," says the Project Manager, Hannu Kostiainen. "The programme is central to Vattenfall's ambition to become number one in the eyes of the customers." The procurement process is being conducted in line with EU regulations, and Vattenfall's invitation to tender has been advertised in the Official Journal. Suppliers have until 21 February to register their interest in tendering. Christer Johansson of Vattenfall Västnät AB is responsible for the procurement process. Vattenfall has previously taken the lead in the industry in increasing customer focus and customer orientation. One example of this is the guarantee in the event of power cuts that was introduced for electricity network customers last year. From Vattenfall's Press Office, telephone: +46 8 739 50 10. For more information, please contact: Karl-Erik Olsson, Press Director, Vattenfall, telephone: +46-8-739 75 83, mobile: +46-70-538 81 38. Christer Johansson, Procurement Manager, telephone: +46-520-88270, mobile: +46-70-662 78 88. Vattenfall's vision is to be a leading European energy company. Vattenfall's main products are electricity and heat. Today, Vattenfall generates power and supplies energy to several million customers in the Nordic region and northern Europe. The largest electricity customers are industrial plants and energy companies. For more information, see www.vattenfall.com . Under NEWS & COMMENTS you will find media service, including Press Releases and Key Events. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/02/05/20030205BIT00710/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/02/05/20030205BIT00710/wkr0002.pdf