Severn Trent adopts Kraken

Severn Trent has become the first water and wastewater company to licence Octopus’ Kraken platform ahead of rolling out smart meters.

It is the second in the sector to adopt the operating system after Portsmouth Water signed a deal to use Kraken in July.

Severn Trent will use the platform to manage its 4.6 million customers and aid with lowering per capita consumption (PCC) as well as access to customer service with AI support, powered by Kraken.

“This will transform the experience our customers receive, and we’re super excited about bringing the benefits to millions of people in the Midlands,” said director of customer solutions at Severn Trent, Jade Burditt.

“Whether it’s embracing game-changing AI technology, linking up data with our smart meters or solving problems first time, it will help to revolutionise how we deliver a great customer service to our customers.”

Ahead of the next asset management period (AMP8) both companies opted to use the platform to enable the use and integration of smart technologies in their networks, notably smart water meters.

For AMP8, all companies have added smart metering to their business plans as a tool to help consumers use water more efficiently. Severn Trent’s ambition is to install 250,000 smart water meters and infrastructure during 2025-30.

The focus on smart networks will help the water companies identify where water is being lost to leaks in the network as well as help consumers understand their own consumption.

Since launching in 2016, Kraken has been licenced to Eon, EDF, Octopus and Good Energy. It is gathering pace outside of the energy sector with telecoms company Cuckoo recently onboarded.

Outside the UK, Kraken has also signed a deal with Tokyo Gas in Japan to use the operating system.