Getting smart
The Talk: interview
Thames Water hosted a digital metering expert from Australia's second biggest
city to learn more about its smart meter roll-out in London. Rian Sullings, from
City West Water in Melbourne, was keen to find out what lessons Thames had
learned from the project, while sharing some of his own experiences. Smart meters
give customers greater control over how much water they use and allow companies
to better understand demand, as well as help find and fix leaks.
12 | APRIL 2020 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk
Q. Hi Rian – firstly tell us a bit
about yourself.
A. "I'm Rian Sullings, digital metering
operational technology lead at City West
Water. I've been working in digital meter-
ing with various suppliers and utilities for
11 years before joining City West Water in
June last year."
Q. I understand City West Water is
one of three water utilities serving
customers across the Melbourne
metropolitan region?
A. "Yes, Melbourne has a population
conditions, ageing infrastructure and high
population growth. We both have similar
values and focus on improving customer
experience."
Q. How did your visit to Thames
Water come about?
A. "I knew Thames Water was delivering
a large digital metering programme and
was looking for a contact. David Gable
is the smart customer side leakage and
acoustic logging field manager for Thames
and arranged the meeting for a time when
I was travelling in London."
Melbourne smart meters.
of around 4.9 million and is expected
to double over the next 40 years. Much
of that growth will be occurring in our
service area, which covers a population
of over 1.1 million people. Our network
covers the central business district, inner
suburbs and western regions. We provide
potable, alternative source and wastewa-
ter services."
Q. Do Melbourne and London share
any similarities?
A. "We are actually very similar. Both are
experiencing changes in climate, drier
