AMI & SMART METERING Progress report: GB smart meter rollout In brief: An update on the developments of the UK’s smart meter rollout programme, along with key development milestones prior to the actual rollout in 2015. Particularly referenced is the Smart Meters Equipment Tech Spec Version 2 and Smart Energy Code (SEC). In 2020 the United Kingdom will have a smart metering system consisting of 53 million meters across 30 million premises made up of households and small commercial or industrial concerns. The rollout of meters is set to start in late 2015 and the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change has been working to provide the supporting environment in the foundation phase of the programme in the run up to the rollout between 2015 and 2020 (initially, rollout was due to start in the last quarter of 2014, but this timeline has been revised). The proposed design for the system will include a smart electricity, and where neces- sary gas meter, communications hub and for domestic customers an in-home display. As illustrated below, a special purpose company, the Data and Communications Company (DCC) has been formed with the specific purpose of linking meters in the homes and other sites with the energy suppliers, networks and energy service companies. The organisation, formed in September 2013, will be responsible for the two way communication and the transfer of data between the meter and energy suppliers, network companies and other 20 authorised participants. An independent communication company was deemed necessary in order to provide consumers the ability to move suppliers – there are The in-home display 1 All domestic customers will be offered an IHD at the smart meter installation visit, for no additional cost. The IHD will give customers easy access to information from their gas and electricity meters, which will enable customers to better manage their energy consumption and help prepayment customers manage their payments. The Government published the Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications (SMETS) in April 2012, which set out the minimum requirements for the IHD. IHDs will show the following information about energy consumption for all customers: • cumulative consumption (i.e. how much energy has been used so far in the current day/week/month); • historical consumption (i.e. how much energy was used yesterday, last week, last month and in the last 12 month period); • whether electricity consumption at a given time is high, medium or low; and • all information on energy consumption to be shown in pounds and pence, as well as kWh. The IHD will also display additional information for prepayment customers on: • the meter balance; • emergency credit balance; • debt recovery rate; and • a low credit alert. To further help consumers engage effectively with the device, IHDs must also be designed so that the information displayed on it can be easily accessed and is presented in a form that is clear and easy to understand, including by consumers with impaired: sight; memory and learning ability; perception and attention; or dexterity. 1 Smart metering implementation programme: First annual progress report on the Roll out of Smart meters. Department of Energy and Climate Change, United Kingdom, 2012 METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE - 1 | 2014