In a rapidly evolving utilities landscape, where energy diversification, environmental performance and operational efficiency intersect, data is fast becoming the most critical asset. At the heart of this transformation is Remote Metering Solutions (RMS), a company that has spent over two decades perfecting the art of turning raw utility data into actionable business intelligence.

 “We help our clients make better decisions with better measurement. We firmly believe that better measurement leads to better business,” RMS chief commercial officer Frikkie Malan explains.

Founded on the principle of remote metering, RMS specialises in gathering utility data, including electricity and water, from buildings across South Africa and beyond, and processing it into usable insights. While the initial value proposition was primarily financial by accurately billing tenants on behalf of landlords, today’s applications span energy efficiency, sustainability reporting and asset management.

Malan notes a major shift in client needs over recent years. “Energy efficiency isn’t new, but with operating costs under pressure and sustainability top of mind, it's more important than ever. Now, disclosure, particularly environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting, is becoming a priority for our clients,” he says. “All of this hinges on the quality of the data we collect.”

This broadened utility of data reflects the evolving complexity of the energy ecosystem. Traditional single-source power supply has given way to fragmented, multi-source systems, where grid electricity is now supplemented or even replaced by generators, solar PV and battery storage. RMS plays a crucial role in consolidating these energy streams into a single, coherent system for measurement, billing and performance tracking.

“Each energy source has its own cost, both financial and environmental. Our role is to make sense of that complexity, ensuring accurate accounting and reporting,” Malan explains. “That’s what protects our clients’ income statements and supports better ESG performance, which in turn opens doors to lower-cost financing.”

Technology-Neutral, Insight-Focused

A key differentiator for RMS is its technology-agnostic approach. Rather than being locked into a specific metering system, RMS has developed the capability to work with virtually any metering technology, or even multiple systems within a single building. “Buildings change hands, clients use different suppliers, and the market evolves. We’ve built our platform to consolidate all of that and present clean, useful information back to our clients,” says Malan.

At the heart of this approach is a fully integrated system that goes beyond metering, which includes communication infrastructure, data processing and analytics to give clients real-time visibility into consumption and performance.

While energy management remains a core focus, RMS is increasingly active in the water sector too. The company offers end-to-end support for on-site water treatment and wastewater solutions, including scoping, construction and operations. Water metering data also plays a role in identifying inefficiencies and ensuring security of supply, which is an increasingly critical concern in South Africa’s urban and industrial centres.

“Whether it’s water or power, these are costly and complex systems to manage,” Malan says. “But metering data can provide deep insight, not just into usage and billing, but into the operational health of the assets themselves.”

As an attendee at Enlit Africa 2025, RMS reaffirmed its role not just as a service provider but as a key enabler of Africa’s energy transition. While Malan is cautious about predicting the , he’s confident that quality measurement will remain central to managing it.

“We’re here to help clients cope with that complexity. Our technologies don’t just track consumption; they enable better strategic decisions. That’s how we support our clients, by turning data into direction,” he concludes.

Watch a video in which Engineering News speaks to RMS chief commercial officer Frikkie Malan about data-driven utility metering at Enlit Africa 2025, in Cape Town.