What is an energy metering system?
Energy metering systems consist of equipment installed to measure volumes of electricity or gas. Equipment such as; meters, voltage transformers, current transformers, the wires and connections between them. It can also include the connections which transmit data to energy suppliers or (if a private sub metering system is present) billing agent.
In the UK, MID (Measuring Instruments Directive) approved meters must be installed. Sub metering installed by landlords for private networks should also use MID approved meters. Consumers have the right to withhold payment of invoices if they are being billed by meters which are not MID approved.
Primary supply meters will be installed by the energy supplier and as such, will be MID approved. Many private sub meters, installed by developers and landlords may not be MID approved. As a result, will be breaching regulation. This is more likely to occur in older buildings.
You can tell if a meter is MID approved by the markings on it. For more information on how to identify MID approved meters see this Gov Website.
Energy Metering Services
Ginger Energy Metering Services Team recently completed a project to replace 72 analogue non-compliant sub meters to MID approved meters at an apartment block in Birmingham city centre.
Before the new meters were fitted, the building’s concierge was responsible for gaining access to each apartment within the first few days of the month to read the meters. He would send his readings to Ginger Energy as the appointed billing agent. Using this data, the recharge team would create invoices for each tenant based on the reading provided.
Historically, this caused billing errors. Errors caused by taking incorrect meter readings in dark cupboards, or incorrectly interpreting had written reading data. Aside from the human error, it was clear that some meters were not recording accurately. There were broken meters which failed to record any consumption. As a result, estimated invoices were produced for those apartments.
Tenants raised concern surrounding the timing of when the readings were taken i.e. they were not taken at midnight on the last day of the month, rather various times after each month end.
Installing replacement MID approved meters with AMR technology, not only resulted in the landlord becoming compliant but additionally, Ginger Energy were able to access consumption data remotely. Produce accurate invoices without relying on the concierge’s hand written readings.
Why is energy metering important?
Ensuring compliant metering equipment to suit the exact requirements of each particular building is fundamentally important. Aside from the regulatory compliance issues, ensuring tenants are billed accurately and on time is paramount. The improvement in both billing quality and customer service is not to be underestimated.
Providing a consumer a full history of their consumption and identify even what time their heating comes on each morning is a very powerful tool in helping all parties understand and control their energy costs.
Working towards #netzero2050, and reducing consumption while ensuring a building’s metering compliant will be vital to ensure responsible building owners, managers and help tenants reduce their spend.