Why do we need "smart metering"
Water scarcity status in South-East England is having a clear effect on water resource strategy. Water companies are having to reviewing what can be done to address potential shortfalls that are predicted for the years to come.
This will take the form of
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Demand (domestic water metering policy changes), and
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Supply side measures (alternative methods of supply)
Numerous studies conducted have shown that metered customers use on average between 10% and 15% less than their un-metered neighbours.
In order to reduce their water usage, the domestic customer needs to have easily understood information regarding their consumption. Educating homeowners about their water consumption through the provision of more detailed and easier to understand bills would make them responsible for their water consumption.
Current metering technology in the UK is not capable of offering complex data for customers to received detailed information about their consumption.
Meters installed in boundary boxes are ideally located for supply pipe leakage monitoring. They are also susceptible to grit damage during installation and therefore able to benefit from using no-moving part flow measurement.
There is a fundamental need for an intelligent meter providing a range of functions including:
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Leakage detection
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The ability to provide tariff charging options
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Peak consumption monitoring
Data Collection
Fixed networks require frequent transmission of data through the entire network and the remote storage and processing of that data. More importantly fixed networks are not compatible with current UK meter installation patterns, as they require a high density of installed meters in order to be cost effective. Mobile reading solutions, up until now, were only ever capable of providing a single reading at the actual time of reading. However, putting intelligence and data storage into the meter itself allows the data to be processed at source and releases the water company from the burden of installing and maintaining a dedicated data collection network.
Tariff options
The revolutionary new water metering technology from Severn Trent Metering Services will enable water companies to apply sophisticated tariffs to help manage demand.
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Seasonal tariffs
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Time-of-day tariffs
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Peak week tariffs
For more information about tariff options using SmartMeters, please visit our page on tariff application using SmartMeters.