SMETS1 meter integration ‘must be accelerated’

Ovo Energy’s energy director has called on the Data Communications Company (DCC) to accelerate the integration of all SMETS1 smart meters into its industry-wide platform.

Steve Harris said the acceleration was needed to “ensure universal interoperability of this technology across all suppliers”.

“The first generation of smart meters (SMETS1) have added value to millions of customers across the UK, offering innovative features to manage energy usage while also supporting future-facing technologies to make energy cleaner and more abundant for everyone,” added Harris.

“To ensure universal interoperability of this technology across all suppliers, the Data Communications Company needs to accelerate the integration of all SMETS1 meters into their industry-wide platform as soon as possible.”

The DCC is the company which manages the smart metering data and communications infrastructure.

Following issues with interoperability the SMETS1 smart meter rollout has faced criticism across the industry, with some devices losing functionality when the customer switches supplier.

This problem is expected to be phased out with the rollout of SMETS2 devices and the integration of the first-generation devices with the DCC’s system.

Responding to Harris’ remarks, a spokesperson for the DCC said: “We are developing our plan for enrolling SMETS1 meters onto the secure network and continuing to support energy suppliers as they ramp up their SMETS2 installations at an ever-increasing rate.”

According to the latest figures released by Ofgem, there are now more than 12 million smart and advanced meters operating across homes and businesses in Great Britain.

The figures show for the second quarter of 2018 a rise in the number of meter installations compared with the same period last year and a 9 per cent increase on Q1.

BEIS says 12.05 million devices have been installed as part of the rollout.