Client: A major electric utility serving millions of customers across multiple U.S. states partnered with HNM Systems to deliver a large-scale wireless Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) network program as part of its smart grid transformation.
Industry: Utilities & Smart Grid Infrastructure
Services Provided: Energy Infrastructure Consulting, Technical Program Management, Wireless AMI Deployment, Smart Grid Consulting, RF Engineering, Utility Portfolio Management, Change Management
Key Results at a Glance
- Delivered multi-year wireless AMI deployments across multiple regions with full regulatory and safety compliance
- Maintained project timelines and controlled costs through disciplined portfolio oversight and risk mitigation
- Minimized operational disruption through structured communication, training, and change management
- Improved deployment visibility with standardized reporting and issue resolution
Business Need
To modernize grid operations and improve metering accuracy and efficiency, the utility launched a phased wireless AMI deployment across multiple service territories.
Key priorities included:
- Coordinating wireless AMI deployments across multiple regions
- Maintaining project timelines while controlling costs and risk
- Supporting RF engineering, field installation, and equipment provisioning
- Improving communication between field teams, executives, and ePMO stakeholders
- Preparing utility personnel for operational readiness
Our Approach
HNM Systems provided energy infrastructure consulting through a dedicated Technical Program Manager supported by RF engineers, installers, and IT resources. The engagement utilized a multi-region delivery model spanning four years.
Technical Oversight & Deployment Leadership
HNM Systems managed RF coverage validation, wireless infrastructure deployment, equipment provisioning, installation scheduling, and field operations throughout each AMI rollout.
Working closely with contractor and utility teams, the program manager tracked field progress and implemented issue resolution workflows to maintain installation quality across multiple regions.
Portfolio Governance & Stakeholder Coordination
HNM Systems aligned project schedules, milestones, and reporting with the client’s ePMO while providing regular performance updates and proactive risk tracking.
The team also served as the liaison between utility operations, supply chain, product development, contractors, and union labor, helping maintain alignment throughout the program.
Operational Readiness & Post-Deployment Support
HNM Systems led commissioning, customer and internal training, final documentation delivery, and post-deployment support planning to ensure operational readiness and minimize post-installation risk.
The team also established issue escalation procedures while gathering field feedback that supported future product enhancements and service expansions.
Results
- Successfully delivered multi-year wireless AMI deployments across multiple geographic regions while maintaining full regulatory and safety compliance
- Maintained project timelines and controlled costs through disciplined portfolio oversight and proactive risk mitigation
- Minimized operational disruption through structured communication, stakeholder training, and change management
- Strengthened utility-wide visibility into deployment health and issue resolution through standardized project reporting
- Provided feedback loops to internal sales and engineering teams, enabling new product features and service expansions
Business Impact: Why They Chose HNM Systems
By combining field execution with enterprise-level program governance, HNM Systems helped the client keep complex AMI deployments on schedule while improving operational readiness, milestone tracking, and stakeholder satisfaction.
The engagement also demonstrated HNM Systems’ expertise in telecom, RF engineering, and utility portfolio management within regulated metering environments.
Deliver Complex Utility Programs with Energy Infrastructure Consulting
HNM Systems provides energy infrastructure consulting that helps utilities deploy wireless AMI networks, strengthen project governance, and successfully deliver complex smart grid initiatives.
Download the full case study: Boosted Smart Metering Deployments with Wireless AMI Rollout Programs
