01327 601122
Smart Metering Explained
Smart meters have the potential to energise your business!
Smart meters are innovative devices revolutionizing the way energy consumption is monitored and managed. These advanced meters provide real-time data on energy usage, enabling both consumers and utility companies to make informed decisions about energy consumption patterns. By offering insights into when and how energy is being used, smart meters empower consumers to adopt more energy-efficient practices, ultimately leading to cost savings and reduced environmental impact. Additionally, smart meters facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid by providing valuable information on energy generation and consumption. With their ability to enhance energy efficiency and promote sustainability, smart meters play a crucial role in shaping the future of the energy landscape.
Future advances in the technology will see fridges and washing machines pause during periods of peak load and they may even help support vulnerable users with fall detection algorithms.
What are Smart Meters?
Smart meters are the next generation of gas and electricity meters featuring advanced capabilities such as integration with home appliances and near real time energy consumption data.
They can also communicate directly with your energy supplier to ensure your business gets accurate bills.
What does SMETS 1 and SMETS 2 mean?
SMETS, which stands for Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications is the acronym by which all true smart meters are known.
The original SMETS version 1 meters installed up to the end of 2017 contain a SIM card that enables the meter to send reads to your supplier over the mobile data network in your area just like your mobile phone sends data.
These meters can be configured to transmit a reading at the end of a timed period which could be from once every half hour to once day.
There is a fundamental flaw with these generation one meters however, they are not cross supplier compatible. Many business owners have found they have had to revert to manual reads to ensure they get accurate billing.
SMETS version 2 meters give businesses all the benefits of near real time monitoring of energy usage and accurate billing but crucially instead of using 3G sim cards, these second generation meters communicate over a Government data network so they are more compatible with a wider range of energy providers. All the big six suppliers and many smaller ones have committed to this new standard with the restof the industry set to follow.
How do I know if I have a smart meter?
Whilst Smart meters look very similar to your common or garden meter, if you dont receive estimated bills and no meter reader visits your property, it is likely you have one installed at your business.
Some suppliers may also specify your meter type on your energy bills. There may be a MAC code or even an IMEI number on the meter which is also an indicator the meter is communicating remotely.
What can smart meters do for my Business?
Save you time
Nobody wants to spend time worrying about their energy bills or spending valuable time phoning through meter reads to their supplier. A smart meter takes all the hassle out of making sure you get the right bill! And getting the right bill will also save you time...see below!
Offer accurate billing
Smart metering will enable business owners to have their finger on the pulse of their energy consumption.
Knowing when your enrgy consumption changes, especially if this is unexpected, can have real benefits as is having the ability to be confident
your consumption is accurate when confronted with an unexpectedly large bill.
Smart metering will mean an end to inaccurate bills and whilst the negatives of being overbilled are obvious in as much as this takes money away from other arreas of your business being underbilled can be even more dangerous. Having to pay an unexpetedbill to correct an account that might have been underbilled for months or years can be difficult to face.
Reduce energy consumption
Smart meters have the capability to provide your business with data that will make you aware of your business’s energy usage putting your energy consumption under the microscope. From somethng as simple as checking your consumption display before you leave to see if any appliances have been left on to detailed consumption graphs that give you the power to seek to understand why your enrgy consumption might inexpicably spike every wednesday afternoon, Smart meters save money.
Benefit the Grid
In the future the cost of having an army of meter readers driving up and down the country collecting tiny pieces of information will be history and our grandchildren will think we were mad!
Smart meters will herald an era of minimal wastage by the grid enabling only the power we need to be generated at any moment.
Further advances will see fridges and air conditioning units that power down to ease demand when the load on the grid spikes such as an ad break during a major live television broadcast!