September 20, 2024 Implementation of the Demonstration Project for Allowing Delivery Vehicles in Cold Regions to Read Smart Water Meters When Driving Nearby (hereinafter referred to as the "Demonstration Project"), as part of the Project for Promoting Collaboration between Post Offices and Regional Public Infrastructures (hereinafter referred to as the "Collaboration Promotion Project") for FY 2024.

 The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has been implementing the Collaboration Promotion Project since FY 2022. As part of the Project, the MIC will conduct the Demonstration Project from Tuesday, October 1, as outlined below.

1. Overview

 In the Collaboration Promotion Project, which has been underway since FY 2022, the MIC has utilized digital technology and the post office network, connecting 24,000 post offices nationwide, to conduct a demonstration project aimed at solving regional issues. This project fosters collaboration between post offices and regional public infrastructures, such as local governments, with the goal of deploying a model case throughout the country.
 This fiscal year, as part of the Collaboration Promotion Project, the MIC focuses on the theme of "Allowing Delivery Vehicles in Cold Regions to Read Smart Water Meters When Driving Nearby (*)." Under the theme, post office delivery vehicles are used to read smart water meters for approximately 200 households in Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture. This is the first demonstration of smart water meter readings by post office delivery vehicles in Japan.

• (*)
  A system that enables delivery vehicles equipped with a wireless parent unit to automatically gather meter readings while passing through a residential area.

2. Summary of demonstration

1. Place of implementation

 Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture (part of the Koubata, Ono, and Sakuragawa districts)

2. Implementation period

 Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - Thursday, October 31, 2024 (scheduled)
 Wednesday, January 15, 2025 - Friday, February 28, 2025 (scheduled)

3. Details of the demonstration project

 Employees responsible for the collection and delivery at post offices will gather water meter reading data while driving through target areas in delivery vehicles equipped with wireless communication devices that can receive information from nearby smart water meters.
 This allows water meter readings to be obtained without requiring meter readers to visit the premises, reducing the burden of water meter reading work in the future.

• (*)
  To verify the accuracy of meter readings gathered through the delivery vehicles, Aomori City conducts the usual manual meter readings in parallel.

3. Other

 A ceremony to mark the start of the demonstration project will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 1 at the main building of Aomori City Hall.