SMS Smart Metering Systems 577p new target 868p 02/2017

MILLIONS of energy bill payers face the threat of disruption after the Government announced it will phase out the mobile signal used by smart meters.

The 2G and 3G networks that the meters use to communicate are to be turned off in 2033 to free up space for more advanced 5G signals that will underpin driverless cars and smart cities. It means the industry will now need to carry out sweeping changes to smart meters relying on these older mobile networks by upgrading them to 4G.

The Daily Telegraph understands work is under way between government and industry to ensure there is a smooth transition to the new generation of smart meter technology.

In an announcement, the Government said that it will work with operators to make certain they meet the needs of users, consumers and vulnerable groups. Energy suppliers have been urged by ministers to speed up rollout of smart meters to ensure that all consumers are offered one by 2025 to help cut carbon emissions and provide more accurate bills.

The devices allow customers to monitor power use in real time and send automatic readings to their supplier, meaning bills no longer have to be estimated. However, opponents have criticised them as an invasion of privacy. Around 24m smart meters have already been installed with a life cycle of 15 years. The switch-off also threatens to create disruption for cars with in-built satellite navigation and safety systems.

It came as Nadine Dorries, the Digital Secretary, unveiled £50m of new investment to speed up innovation in mobile technology. Among the measures were plans to ensure 35pc of Britain’s mobile traffic is carried over equipment made by smaller suppliers once Huawei technology is removed from the country’s network.

To hit the target, mobile operators will be encouraged to use OpenRan, a tech standard that allows more firms to supply equipment to mobile networks.

Daily Telegraph 08/12/2021

 

17 December 2021


Smart Metering Systems plc

Contract extension with Shell


Smart Metering Systems plc (AIM: "SMS", the "Group"), a fully integrated energy infrastructure company owning and managing meter assets, energy data, grid-scale batteries and other carbon reduction ("CaRe") assets is pleased to announce that it has extended the exclusivity agreement with Shell Energy Retail Limited ("Shell") for the installation and funding of smart meters until December 2025.


Alan Foy, CEO, SMS commented:

"The extension of the exclusivity agreement is a testament to the strength of our long-term relationship with Shell, underpinned by our well established end-to-end integrated model."


Tony Keeling, CEO, Shell Energy Retail Limited commented:

"Shell has significantly grown its market share in the UK retail energy supply in recent months. The extension of our partnership with SMS is key to us safely continuing to deliver the smart meter roll-out programme - a critical enabler to digitalise and decarbonise the UK energy system."

 

Smart meter overhaul to open gates for ‘surge pricing’
Devices in homes will automatically send suppliers an update on power use every half hour

Matt Oliver

SMART meters are to automatically send energy suppliers half-hourly updates on their customers’ power use in a revolutionary move that will allow “surge pricing” in millions of households’ bills.

The energy regulator Ofgem will be granted legal powers in May allowing it to change the way smart meters operate, so that information about usage is sent to suppliers every 30 minutes by default.

Suppliers will be able to use the data to change consumer energy prices as much as 48 times per day, allowing them to charge more at peak times.

The plans are viewed by industry experts as a key stepping stone towards “time of use” tariffs, which would charge customers different rates for energy throughout the day depending on demand.

This could mean that households pay more during the busiest periods, raising the possibility that they could be penalised for watching television, boiling the kettle or charging gadgets at popular times such as mornings and evenings.

Consumer rights groups have also warned that people with poorly insulated homes, old-fashioned appliances or health conditions that require round-the-clock support may lose out without safeguards.

But energy company bosses and Ofgem yesterday insisted the plans will ultimately benefit most customers, saving them between £1.6bn and £4.5bn overall. This is because the changes will let more people take advantage of lower prices at “off peak” times, in turn easing demand at peak times and lowering prices for everyone.

A timeline published by Ofgem says it will formally gain the powers to introduce the changes in May. They will be implemented by 2025.

Smart meters already have the capability to send half-hourly use reports to energy providers, but at present a customer must “opt in” to switch this on. Ofgem is intending to change the rules so that the updates are on by default. Customers who do not want to share this data will have to ask to “opt out”.

Ofgem has said people who already have smart meters won’t have their preferences changed until they enter a new energy contract.

Households with a smart meter will also have to submit a mandatory reading every day, rather than once a month under the current provisions.

At present, suppliers typically do not know exactly how much power households are using throughout the day.

This means companies generally charge a flat rate for electricity and gas, although some including Octopus and British Gas have offered “free” power to customers during less busy times to encourage them to voluntarily share smart meter data.

With the advent of electric cars – which will increase pressure on the grid – understanding hourly usage patterns will become crucial.

Ofgem and energy companies want to encourage people to use less power during the busiest periods. This would mean less investment is needed for upgrading grid infrastructure.

Greg Jackson, chief executive of Octopus Energy, said: “This change would be extremely good for consumers. I cannot imagine that any energy company is going to force time of use tariffs on customers, so it is like the reduced yellow-label food items at supermarkets.

“People who want a bargain can grab them, while everyone else benefits because it reduces waste.”

A spokesman for Ofgem said: “This major system upgrade is a significant milestone on Britain’s path to net zero.

“It will enable a more efficient, flexible and greener energy system which will save billions of pounds per year on all consumers’ energy bills.

“Ofgem will work closely with industry to make sure it delivers this major upgrade while ensuring those in vulnerable circumstances remain protected.”

Citizens Advice is broadly supportive but has previously warned that setting “normal” thresholds for energy use, and charging people more if they exceed them, could unfairly punish those who cannot easily change their habits.

Martin Young, an energy analyst at Investec, said the overhaul would likely prompt more suppliers to offer time of use tariffs.

The changes do not affect people with standard meters.

Daily Telegraph 09/02/2022

 

NUCLEAR missile early warning systems are at risk of interference from the rollout of smart meters, forcing energy bosses to halt installations across parts of Yorkshire, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

People living near RAF Fylingdales have been refused the upgrade because smart meter signals may clash with its ballistic missiles radar equipment.

Crewed by Royal Air Force staff on the North York Moors, Fylingdales scours the skies for ballistic missiles across a 3,000-mile radius, providing data to the US government to warn of an impending strike on America.

It is understood that the radio frequencies smart meters use to send data usage to suppliers has proven problematic because it is too close to those used by Fylingdales, formerly home to landmark “golf ball” radar domes. They were demolished after the end of the Cold War and replaced with pyramid structures.

Ministers have stopped the rollout to some homes within the North York Moors National Park until they can be kitted out with a new smart meter that can operate on the 454MHz frequency instead of the standard 422-424MHz band used by most smart meters.

A letter from the Department for Energy sent to some households late last year and seen by The Telegraph said: “Some premises within the vicinity of RAF Fylingdales will require new technology that industry has been developing – a special type of communications hub – for smart meters at those properties to connect to the national smart metering network.”

The Telegraph revealed this month how new powers for the energy regulator will allow smart meters to send information about usage to suppliers every 30 minutes by default. The plans are part of preparations for so-called surge pricing, whereby electricity prices vary according to demand. Ministers are pursuing the technology to help manage the load on the grid as Britain increasingly depends on variable renewable power and electric vehicles.

Such changes prepare the ground for households to potentially pay more during the busiest periods, raising the prospect of being penalised for using the washing machine or charging gadgets in the mornings or evenings.

While in most parts of the country smart meters are being heavily marketed, in the area around Fylingdales those who do want one are being refused. One consumer living close to the RAF Fylingdales base posted on a forum hosted by the Money Saving Expert website: “SMETS2 smart meters are simply not available to me because they operate at a radio frequency which will cause interference with an RAF airbase, RAF Fylingdales. All the potential energy suppliers just say ‘No; you are ineligible for a SMETS2 smart meter’ and leave it at that.”

The Government said alternative smart meter technology compatible with RAF Fylingdales is being rolled out to nearby households, with a test deployment to 300 homes under way.

Mike Hewitt, the chief technology officer of Smart DCC, the Capita-owned company that runs the smart meter radio network, said: “Hundreds of premises near Fylingdales have already been connected” with the new smart meter tech,” he added.

Daily Telegraph 17/02/2022

 

Smart Metering Sys - Full year results #SMS https://www.voxmarkets.co.uk/rns/announcement/49c523f6-93f3-4aeb-9e95-4c25c8bef6e3

 

Smart Metering Sys - AGM update #SMS https://www.voxmarkets.co.uk/rns/announcement/d0517dbb-b18a-4349-9ff9-a7e801f931db

 

21 June 2022

Smart Metering Systems plc

Strategic Investments


Smart Metering Systems plc (AIM: "SMS", the "Group"), a fully integrated energy infrastructure company owning and managing meter assets, energy data, grid scale batteries and other carbon reduction (CaRe) assets, is pleased to announce two strategic investments, accelerating the Group's capabilities in the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure asset class and further expanding its service offering in energy data management.

Clenergy EV Limited ("Clenergy EV")

SMS has invested an initial £2.0 million to acquire a 25% shareholding in Clenergy EV, a software business with a Charge Point Operator (CPO) platform focused on EV charging infrastructure. Clenergy EV's customer base is in the public charging and fleet sectors, with its platform currently being used in more than 1,000 EV chargers across the UK. SMS has the option to invest a further £2.0 million after one year, leading to the acquisition of an additional 26% interest, and has an option to acquire the remaining shares after five years.

This investment complements SMS's existing EV installation capabilities and will enable the Group to deliver a fully end-to-end integrated platform for EV charging infrastructure, a model the Group has successfully adopted for its meters, data and grid-scale battery assets.

n3rgy Data Ltd ("n3rgy")

SMS has separately acquired 100% of n3rgy, a data software company, for a cash consideration of £1.4 million. n3rgy's software (SaaS) platform enables and facilitates the use of energy consumption, generation and tariff data from smart meters registered on the Data Communications Company (DCC) platform. This data is then used for settlement, billing, energy management and a growing market of wider applications and services.

The acquisition, together with the Group's accredited and scalable technology platforms, will enhance and accelerate SMS's capabilities in smart energy data solutions, providing the Group with a strong competitive position in the significant addressable market as the industry moves towards mandatory half-hourly settlement.

An additional £0.8 million deferred consideration will be payable by SMS subject to n3rgy achieving certain performance targets.

Notice of Half Year trading update

As reported at the Group's AGM update on 19 May 2022:

§ Our smart meter installation run rate has continued to strengthen throughout the course of this year, in line with the Group's expectations

§ Our first 50MW grid-scale battery project continues to perform strongly and our additional 660MW pipeline continues to progress in line with our expectations

A trading update for the first six months to 30 June 2022 is expected to be released on Wednesday 27 July 2022.


Tim Mortlock, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"These two strategic investments are highly complementary to the existing SMS business and will significantly enhance our propositions in EV charging and energy data management, continuing the momentum in developing our CaRe products and services. Our investment in Clenergy EV will help to accelerate our advancement into the highly attractive EV charging market and the acquisition of n3rgy enables us to build on our strong existing position in energy data solutions."

 

Sunday Telegraph 26/06/22

 

Sunday Times 03/07/22