EWA Smart Meters and Remote Meter Reading Programme

The EWA Smart Meters and Remote Meter Reading Programme is a national digital utility modernization initiative in Bahrain for electricity infrastructure upgrade across the Kingdom.¹ The programme forms part of EWA’s broader digital transformation agenda for electricity efficiency, reliability, and consumption management.²

The project replaces traditional manual meter reading with advanced metering infrastructure that enables real-time data transmission, automated billing, and improved monitoring of electricity consumption patterns.³

The programme’s vision is to “establish a modern, digitally enabled electricity system”. ⁴ It aims to modernize electricity metering infrastructure through the deployment of smart meters and automated remote reading systems, improving operational efficiency, service reliability, transparency, and billing accuracy, reducing technical and administrative losses, and strengthening customer engagement in electricity consumption monitoring and management.⁵

Its key objectives include enabling remote meter reading without on-site visits, strengthening load monitoring and demand management capabilities, reducing operational costs and human error associated with manual readings , and supporting Bahrain’s broader energy efficiency and smart infrastructure objectives.^{6 7}

The EWA smart metering system integrates digital hardware, communication infrastructure, and centralized monitoring platforms that establish a foundation for smart-grid readiness and future digital energy services. This includes:⁸

• Smart electricity meters installed at residential, commercial, and governmental facilities, capable of automated data transmission.
• Remote meter reading system, allowing consumption data to be collected centrally without physical site access.
• Central data management platform, enabling real-time monitoring, fault detection, and billing integration.
• Customer interface support, facilitating improved service requests, consumption tracking, and complaint resolution.

By improving data accuracy and real-time monitoring of electricity demand, the system supports more efficient energy management, reduces electricity wastage, improves service continuity, lowers the carbon footprint associated with manual meter-reading visits, and enables EWA to better analyze consumption patterns, identify irregular usage, enhance network planning, and advance national energy-efficiency objectives.^{9 10}

The programme is owned, managed, and implemented by the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) as Bahrain’s national utility authority.¹¹ Implementation involves coordination with technology providers, metering system vendors, and telecommunications partners engaged through EWA procurement frameworks.¹²

The smart meter rollout is ongoing, with installations continuing across Bahrain as part of EWA’s long-term modernization strategy.¹³ The programme remains active and forms a core element of Bahrain’s transition toward smarter and more efficient utility systems.¹⁴