Case study

Our partnership with Southern Water delivers 150,000 smart meters within eight months of mobilisation

Horizon Water Infrastructure Southern Water Alliance – which brings together Horizon Water Infrastructure, SUEZ and M Group Water – has reached more than 150,000 live smart meters across Southern Water’s network within eight months. This milestone demonstrates how Funded Data-as-a-Service (FDaaS) enables utilities to accelerate smart metering programmes, reduce delivery risk and create long-term operational value through an end-to-end service model.

Our work with Southern Water is already delivering results

When Southern Water appointed Horizon Water Infrastructure as prime contractor in 2025 to replace one million smart water meters over five years, it set an ambitious vision for modernising its network.

Eight months on, and that programme has reached a major milestone. More than 150,000 smart water meters are now live across Southern Water’s network, delivered by the Horizon Water Infrastructure Southern Water Alliance.

It isn’t just the pace of this delivery which is significant. This milestone demonstrates that there is a different way to fund and deliver large-scale smart metering. Through the UK’s first Funded Data-as-a-Service (FDaaS) model for smart metering, Southern Water is accelerating deployment while reducing the complexity traditionally associated with infrastructure programmes of this scale.

As the programme continues towards one million meter replacements over five years, it is already delivering the operational insight needed to improve customer experience, strengthen network performance and support long-term water resilience.

Stephanie Davidovitz, Head of Smart Metering at Southern Water said:
“"Installing 150,000 smart meters in just eight months is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates what can be accomplished through strong collaboration across the Alliance. This milestone marks an important step forward in our transformation journey, providing the data and insights needed to improve operational performance, reduce leakage, and help customers play an active role in managing their water use."”

Southern Water needed a delivery model that could match its ambition

Replacing one million water meters requires more than installation capacity. It requires funding, technology, communications, customer engagement and long-term performance management to work together from the start.

That’s why Southern Water appointed Horizon Water Infrastructure to lead the Horizon Water Infrastructure Southern Water Alliance, which brings together Horizon Water Infrastructure, SUEZ and M Group Water under a single delivery model.

In addition to deploying more than 150,000 smart water meters, the programme has already:

Reached a delivery rate of more than 1,000 installations per day – equivalent to one meter being changed every 2.5 minutes since programme launch.
Achieved 98% network connectivity across installed meters, with performance continuing to improve.
Enabled Southern Water to operate in Smart Mode, with regular, high-quality data reads already supporting customer and network outcomes.

As Daniel Reilly, Managing Director of Horizon Water Infrastructure, explains:
“"Reaching more than 150,000 live meters with 98% and improving connectivity in under eight months shows what's possible when execution, accountability and scale are aligned. From contract award to operational delivery in just three months, this programme has moved faster than anything comparable in the sector."”

Our Funded Data-as-a-Service model helps Southern Water focus on outcomes, not just infrastructure

Our Funded Data-as-a-Service (FDaaS) model gives Southern Water a fully funded, end-to-end solution covering:

Proven expertise.
Funding.
Technology.
Installation.
Communications infrastructure.
Meter maintenance.
Long-term operational performance.

Rather than owning the infrastructure itself, Southern Water pays for the operational data generated by the network.

By bringing every stage of delivery together within one accountable prime-led model, FDaaS helps Southern Water:

Reduce upfront capital investment.
Transfer delivery, technology and supply chain risk.
Simplify programme governance.
Improve capital efficiency.
Focus on operational and customer outcomes rather than managing multiple suppliers.

As more water companies look to modernise their networks and improve infrastructure performance, the Southern Water programme demonstrates how alternative funding and delivery models can accelerate progress while reducing complexity.

The programme is already turning data into operational insight

The true value of smart metering comes after installation.

With regular, high-quality data now flowing from the network, Southern Water is already using smart metering to improve operational performance and customer outcomes.

Early results include:

Continuous flow identified in approximately 14% of monitored households, creating immediate opportunities to reduce water consumption.
Earlier and more accurate leak detection.
Improved demand management.
Greater network resilience.
More accurate billing based on actual usage.
Clearer consumption insights to help customers better understand and manage their water use.

Reliable operational insight depends on reliable communications. As part of the Horizon Water Infrastructure Southern Water Alliance, SUEZ is providing the smart metering technology that supports the programme’s long-term performance.

David Adams, Commercial Director at SUEZ Digital Solutions UK says:
“"Protecting water resources is essential, especially as climate change accelerates and disrupts the water cycle. Digital solutions are valuable allies in managing water resources efficiently, reducing leakage and individual consumption. We are incredibly proud to play a key role in not only providing a rapid delivery of 150,000 meters, but providing very high levels of connectivity and data completeness from the start, far exceeding the Ofwat performance targets. Together, with HWI, we are demonstrating that smart metering programmes can deliver actionable insight on customer leakage and valuable holistic data to understand demand and network behaviour from the beginning of the programme, without having to wait until rollout is completed.” ”

Our model is built to deliver at scale

Delivering a programme of this scale requires more than the right technology. It requires the right partnership.

Under Horizon Water Infrastructure’s leadership, the Horizon Water Infrastructure Southern Water Alliance combines funding, programme leadership, smart metering technology and large-scale delivery expertise within a single accountable structure.

That approach enables Southern Water to focus on programme outcomes while Horizon Water Infrastructure and its Alliance partners manage delivery.

For delivery partner M Group Water, close collaboration has been central to maintaining the programme’s pace.

Lawrence Summers, Executive Director at M Group Water, says:
“"Working alongside our partners Southern Water, Horizon Water Infrastructure and SUEZ, we're proud to have surpassed the milestone of 150,000 meter installations. M Group Water is playing a critical role in mobilising and delivering this programme at scale, utilising our sector-leading works management system and proven expertise in managing the end-to-end customer journey. Together, we're helping Southern Water accelerate its ambition to upgrade more than one million meters by 2030, delivering better value for customers and long-term benefits for the wider water network."”

Southern Water’s 150,000 milestone was only the beginning

The first 150,000 smart meters demonstrate that Southern Water’s long-term investment is already delivering measurable results.

As the programme continues towards one million meter replacements, it will generate richer operational data, strengthen network performance and create even greater opportunities to improve customer service and water efficiency.

It demonstrates what’s possible when funding, technology and delivery are integrated from the outset. As more water companies tackle the challenges of AMP8 and beyond, the same approach can help accelerate smart metering programmes while reducing delivery risk and complexity.

If your organisation is planning or optimising a smart meter programme or exploring new approaches to infrastructure delivery and asset management, Horizon Water Infrastructure’s Funded Data-as-a-Service (FDaaS) model can help reduce delivery risk, improve capital efficiency and accelerate deployment.

Speak to Horizon Water Infrastructure about how Funded Data-as-a-Service (FDaaS) can help accelerate your smart infrastructure programme.

Key takeaways

FDaaS removes the cost and complexity of smart metering delivery

Funded Data-as-a-Service (FDaaS) provides utilities with a fully outsourced approach to smart metering, bringing together funding, technology, installation, communications, maintenance and long-term operational performance under a single accountable delivery model. Already proven through the Southern Water programme, FDaaS removes the need to procure, fund and manage multiple specialist suppliers, reducing delivery risk while accelerating programme mobilisation.

The Horizon Water Infrastructure Southern Water Alliance accelerates delivery at scale

Replacing one million water meters requires more than installation capacity. The Horizon Water Infrastructure Southern Water Alliance combines programme leadership, smart metering technology, communications infrastructure and large-scale delivery expertise within a single managed ecosystem. This integrated approach delivers greater installation productivity, stronger communications performance, clear accountability and consistent programme governance, enabling utilities to focus on outcomes rather than managing delivery.

Wize delivers the reliable connectivity smart metering depends on

Reliable operational data starts with reliable communications. As the technology partner within the Horizon Water Infrastructure Southern Water Alliance, SUEZ provides Wize’s 169 MHz communications network, delivering robust connectivity that exceeds Ofwat performance targets. With long-range, low-power communications, high data completeness and a 98% connectivity rate across the Southern Water programme, Wize provides the resilient communications foundation needed to support leak detection, demand management and long-term network performance.

ON’connect™ transforms smart meter data into operational insight

The value of smart metering is realised through the decisions it enables. SUEZ’s ON’connect™ platform gives utilities a single, integrated view of their smart metering estate, providing real-time consumption monitoring, automated meter readings and instant alerts for anomalies. Complementing this, ON’connect™ coach helps customers better understand their water use and identify opportunities to reduce consumption. Together, these platforms transform smart meter data into actionable operational insight, improving customer outcomes, strengthening network performance and supporting more sustainable water management.

About our Alliance Partners

M Group Water

M Group Water is an integrated water and wastewater solutions partner, delivering strategic end-to-end solutions across the whole asset life cycle. Operating in complex, high-risk environments, M Group Water brings together deep technical expertise, large-scale delivery capability and intelligent digital solutions to reduce risk, strengthen resilience and improve environmental and customer outcomes – helping our clients deliver safe, reliable and compliant services at scale.

For more information visit https://mgroupltd.com/

SUEZ

Faced with growing environmental challenges, SUEZ has been delivering essential services that protect and improve our quality of life for more than 160 years. SUEZ provides its customers with innovative and resilient solutions for water and waste services. With 40,000 employees across 40 countries, the Group works with customers to create value over the full lifecycle of their assets and services, and to drive their low carbon transition. In 2025, SUEZ provided drinking water for 67 million people worldwide and sanitation services for 36 million people. The Group generated 8.7 TWh of energy from waste and wastewater. In 2025, SUEZ generated revenues of 9.5 billion euros.

For more information visit www.suez.com