Utilities


Willsmart meters easily fityour communal utilities area?


OvercOmingthe high-risechallenge


siemens thinks it’s founda solution to theproblem of installing smart meters in blocks of flats


one company that is addressingtheissueof


smartmeteringinflatsis


and howmuch it is costing them, clearly displayedinpoundsand pence. The Government’s aim is to put customers in


control;smartmetering will signal awelcome endtoestimatedand inaccurate billing. Customersusing pre-payment will be able to top up directly fromtheir IHD, so nomore running outofcreditinthemiddle of cooking dinner, or late at nightwhen the shops are shut. Foranyonelivinginaflat andcurrently using pre-paymentmeters,thisisalsogood news if they have problemsaccessing communal meterareas fortopping up.Smartmetering will enable fasterswitchingtosuppliers to get thebest dealsand greaterflexibility to more tailored tariffs to suit individual customers’ use and requirements. SmartMeters are larger in size than


the currentmeters and will have a communications hubwhich will be either be integratedwithinthemeter–asortoftop hatstyle –orattachedtothesmartmeter by acable. So farsogood.However,whilethe


installation ofsmartmeterswithinstandard houses will be straightforward, within blocks of flats itmaynot be so simple.Not allflats will be affected but problems will occur,


whereexistingmeters arenot locatedwithin individual flats


especiallyinblockswhere existingmeters arenot locatedwithinthe individual flats but housed in centrallocationssuchascommunal metercupboards andbasements or external locations away fromthe building. Theproblemhere is thatsmartmetersand


IHDdevices need to be able to communicate. As anyonewhousesawirelessbroadband network at homewill know, communication betweendevices canbegreatly reducedby factors such as distance – in this case from theflat to themeter –and structural factors relating to thefabricofthe building,suchas concrete floors. Underthe currentregulations,eachenergy


supplier is responsible forensuringthatall thedevices communicate. So in somecases


46


Problemswill occur, especially in blocks


this will


requirethe installation of additional equipment or the


development of bespoke solutions. The


managing


agent/freeholder/ landlord of your


building will also need to give permission for


installing additionalequipment,


especiallyifithas to be placed anywhere within thecommonparts. They will have to take severalthingsintoaccountincluding theaesthetics of thebuilding (particularlyin listed properties)on-goingmaintenanceand responsibility for the equipment installed. Inmany blocks it is perfectlyfeasible that a


supplier couldhaveacustomeronthe top floor andthemeterlocatedinthe basement.The standard wireless installation simply won’t deliverconnectivitywheresmartmetersare in acentral location such asmetercupboards or basementsand as aresultflat owners could findsomesuppliers refusing to installona cost basis. In addition to the devices being able to


communicate, theremay be otherissues to consider such as space constraints forthe installation of thesmartmeters.Whilea communalmetercupboardcomfortably houses your currentmeter, the newsmart meters arelargerandmaynot fit into the currentdesignatedcentral utilities area. This couldleadtoissues with regardsto relocation. Thechallengesofsmartmeter installation


within blocks of flats have beenrecognised but not yet resolved. The Association of ResidentialManagingAgents(ARMA)is workingwithEnergyUKand Siemensto resolvethe issuesraisedbythisnew intiative andhas also beeninvolvedwiththeSmart MeterCentral Delivery Bodyinarecentexpert workshop in communicatingthesmartmeter roll-out to customers. Formoreguidanceon smartmetersfrom ARMA,gototheir website atwww.arma.org.uk●


NoellaMortonischair ofARMA’s technicalcommittee andhasbeeninvolvedin theworkbeingundertakenbythe organisationtounderstandtheissuesthatwillbefacedby managingagentsandresidents in blocksof flats.


engineeringgiantSiemens. AccordingtoSiemens’ research,around fivemillionBritish


households–morethan afifthofthepopulation–is livingina‘multi-dwelling unit’orMDU,atownhouse orbespokedesignedproperty. Ofthese,2.3Mhouseholdsare unlikelytofitthestandardmodel forsmartmetering.


Thiswouldleavemanypeople


withouttheabilitytoimproveenergy efficiency in theirhomesor toeasily switchprovidersandtariffstoget the bestdealonfuelsupply.Ofthosefive millionhouseholds livingin flatsand housesinmultipleoccupation, Siemens estimates“a largeproportion” is livingin fuelpoverty.


Inresponse, Siemenshascome upwithacleverturnkeysolutionfor


...smartmeterscan be installedin high andlowrise blocks


multi-dwellingandothernon-standard propertieswhichisbasedonashared infrastructurewithintheblockwhich ismade‘smart ready’ andcanthenbe tappedintobyanumber of different utility providers. Here’s thetechnical bit.Byinstalling


abroadband-over-powerlinebackbone (BPL)intoablock,thesmartmeters andIHDscanbe wirelessly connected to this viaZigBee radio. BPLis able to providehighperformanceand bandwidthconnectivity tometers in difficultpositions,whileutilisingexisting wiringinbuildings.ZigBeeconnectivity ensures that standardsmartmeters can be installedinhighandlowriseblocks, makingthemavailableto flatowners in situationswherethestandard equipment justwon’twork. Siemensisnowtestingthetechnology


inpartnershipwitharangeof utilities providerstoensureitworkseffectively in complexdomesticbuildings.●


Issue17 Flat Living


ZigBee connectivity ensuresthat


Jargon Buster


whatisfuelpoverty?


Ahouseholdisconsidered to be in fuel poverty if they need to spendmore than 10%


of their total incomeon heating their home and the cost of electricity. Fuel poverty typically affectsmore vulnerable householdssuch as those comprising elderly and very young people, those with disabilities and people sufferinglong-term illness.However it also affectsworking people and families.


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