AB Ignitis grupe announced that its subsidiary AB Energijos skirstymo operatorius (ESO) on April 14, 2021, made a decision to conclude the contract with the supplier Sagemcom Energy & Telecom SAS after the participant completed the proof of concept (POC) for the procurement of smart metering infrastructure. Contract value – up to EUR 75 million, excluding VAT. The contract with the supplier will comprise the supply of up to 1.2 million of smart meters, data aggregation and information technology management solution and its implementation, communication services, solution development and maintenance services for the period of 10 years. The smart meter installation for the residents who consume more than 1,000 kWh of electricity annually and business customers will commence in the fourth quarter of 2021 and will be completed by the end of 2023. A more detailed communication about the practical implementation of installing smart meters will commence in the third quarter of 2021. The total smart metering infrastructure project investment value reaches EUR 150 million and has been coordinated with the National Energy Regulatory Council (NERC). The sum includes the cost of meter installation works and other equipment, development of the current systems, creation of other related information technologies as well as services and communication.