Beta version: Smart meter implementation plans

Water wholesalers are investing heavily in smart metering to help meet the growing demand for water and Defra’s target to reduce overall NHH consumption by 9% by 2038. Wholesalers are rolling out more than 10 million smart meters in the current Asset Management Period (ending 2030), including nearly 800,000 non-household customers.

This section provides maps showing the latest view of companies’ rollout plans, plus additional information such as companies’ targets and meter prioritisation. Providing a view of the rollout from a national perspective is particularly important for Retailers and customers operating in multiple wholesaler areas.

The maps aim to provide a guide to retailers and customers when they can expect meters to be upgraded and “smart ready”, i.e. awaiting connection to the communications network. The maps also aim to help wholesalers and retailers collaborate during the rollout to maximise the benefits from smart metering and help ensure a positive experience for customers.

The maps have been developed by MOSL, the Metering Committee and RWG Smart Meter Implementation Group following a recommendation in the National Metering Strategy.

Map views provide wholesaler planned smart meter implementation start and completion dates by postal geography (either area, district or sector level) and aim to support the following three phases of customer engagement:

1. Pre-implementation – a longer-term view of smart meter implementation plans by area supports retailers with strategic planning and customer communications around meter reading and logger services.

2. During-implementation – having a indication of active implementation areas or those due for smart meter implementation imminently helps wholesalers and retailers prioritise sites and work together resolve challenges with installation, ensuring onsite teams are effective and deploy the maximum number of meters while they are in the area

3. Post-implementation – having a view of the proportion of meters that are smart- enabled by area supports the transition process from “smart ready” to “smart enabled” (i.e. live). Areas with a high percentage of meters that are smart enabled indicate smart enabled areas allowing retailers to prioritise and prepare SPIDs within those areas for their move to smart meter reading services.

Definitions

Smart Ready - meters that are capable of being smart but are not yet connected to the network and so are not yet sending reads automatically

Smart Enabled (Smart Live) – smart meters that have been commissioned, connected to the network and are sending smart meter reads

Caveats

Please note: Smart meter implementation dates relate to the installation of Smart Ready meters.

Planned dates are subject to change, they are provided by wholesalers on a best available basis and wholesalers have the opportunity to refine these monthly as plans are confirmed.

Currently seven wholesalers have provided information on their smart meter implementation plans relating to AMP8 via MOSL’s SharePoint facility. All remaining wholesalers have committed to providing timescales when they are available, many indicating these will be provided to MOSL once procurement exercises are complete later this year.

Wholesaler Smart Targets for AMP8 & Approach Context

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