Riverside Public Utilities Selects Tantalus as its Technology Partner to Expand its Grid Modernization Efforts

Published: 2025-06-12 08:51:00 ET GRID.TO

Published on 06/12/2025 at 08:51

Tantalus Systems announced that Riverside Public Utilities ("RPU"), serving approximately 180,000 electric and water customers throughout Riverside, California, has selected Tantalus as its technology partner to expand its grid modernization efforts. The deployment represents a major step forward for RPU to improve the reliability and resiliency of its distribution grid. In 2019, RPU entered into an agreement with Tantalus to begin executing its 10-year strategic plan, called Utility 2.0, which was designed to address many challenges facing RPU and the utility industry.

One of RPU's original goals for Utility 2.0 was to extend the life of the utility's existing encoder receiver transmitter ("ERT") metering infrastructure while laying the foundation to embrace sustainability initiatives and reliably enhance their customers' experience. Initially, RPU deployed Tantalus' ERT-overlay capabilities to automate the reading of its existing ERTs without having to remove and replace existing infrastructure. The insights gathered through the initial investment in Tantalus' technology led their team to approve a multi-year project to replace 80,000 legacy ERT devices with advanced metering infrastructure at a time that was best for the utility.

This undertaking represents the largest ERT-to-AMI migration in Tantalus' history. The partnership between RPU and Tantalus demonstrates how utilities can effectively transition from legacy systems to advanced solutions while aligning upgrades to their respective priorities and timelines. By leveraging existing infrastructure and modernizing their grid at their own pace, RPU took a strategic approach that additional utilities are embracing in planning for grid modernization initiatives.