Smart Meters: smart savings or profits?

A critique of the current Ofgem E-Serve Smart Meter proposals to roll-out smart meters across the whole UK building estate and an exploration of how end-user gains can be maximised.  This conference is to ensure a strong and informed demand-side, end-user led response to these Government proposals.

Smart Meters are coming - the European Commission requires their installation under the Energy End-use Directive and the Smart Metering Mandate.  European standards are being developed and DECC/Ofgem are consulting on how this should be implemented in the UK.  The new coalition Government is keen to complete the roll-out much earlier than previous plans - possibly as early as 2016.

But what features and systems need to be implemented to ensure that it is the end-user who will gain the maximum advantage and save money?  Or are smart meters just another way to improve utility profits? Its not that the utility should loose; rather than the end-user should gain more.

Response to Ofgem consultation:

Part of the consultation closed on 28 September 2010.  ESTA and Conference attendees have been granted an extension by Ofgem [Ref: Neil Barnes] to Monday 4 October 2010 to incorporate the output from this conference.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

What should be installed? [ 822kb] Rogelio Segovia, DG INFSO, European Commission The EU has identified the need for smart metering to meet the Energy Services Directive and the 20/20/20 climate change objectives.  What do the commission expect a smart meter to be and to do?

What has been installed? [ 429kb] Howard Stark, Managing Director, Stark Software International Experience of application of smart meters to date in both electricity and gas.

What would we like to be installed? [ 563kb] Hywel Davies, Technical Director, CIBSE What capability would give optimum value to both demand and supply sectors.

What could you get? [ 1,080kb] Lee Jones, Siemens PLC From smart grids to automatic demand management.

What is being installed?  The Ofgem Prospectus [ 760kb] Robert Hull, Managing Director, Commercial Services, Ofgem E-Serve The value of smart meters to UK PLC and current plans for the UK implementation.

What I need from a smart meter: Energy Manager with multiple sites of mixed size [ 1,350kb] Andy Stanton, Energy Manager, Transport for London

What I need from a smart meter: Consumers: gas and electricity - No Presentation John Holbrow, Environment and Policy Unit, Federation of Small Businesses

What I need from a smart meter: Measurement or guesswork? Value of data when collected [ 1,350kb] Paul Martin, Managing Director, TEAM (Energy Auditing Agency)

What will you get? [ 250kb] Alan Simmons, Engage Consulting on behalf of the Energy Retail Association ERA Utilities will be the primary route for installing smart meters. How may they approach this massive obligation?

What could be installed? [ 810kb] Kris Szajdzicki, Chairman, ND Metering Solutions The ideal smart meter - does it exist? Whose needs does it meet?