Local authorities, combined authorities, businesses and numerous other organisations have also announced their intentions to achieve Net Zero, with many pledging to do so sooner than 2050. Something that impacts everyone, from individuals through to large organisations and Governments, is water. Every litre of mains water delivered to the tap has an amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with it, so this is something to which water companies, retailers and consumers of all sorts need to pay close attention.

According to the Water UK website, the water industry delivers 15 billion litres of water every day and treats sewerage from more than 28 million properties. Water is treated at over 7000 sites and there are hundreds of thousands of miles of buried pipework.

Greenhouse gas emissions are generated in many different ways by the water industry. Pumping is a significant contributor, but there are also emissions due to the need to power water treatment processes, service buildings and operate vehicles. In addition, water and sewage treatment result in emissions of methane and nitrous oxide, both of which are greenhouse gases. When infrastructure is repaired, upgraded or newly constructed, there are further emissions.

An Environment Agency report quotes from the Government’s 2008 Future Water strategy paper, saying the water industry used 7,900 GWh of energy in 2006/7 and emitted over 5 million tonnes for greenhouse gases. Supplying water and treating wastewater accounts for 0.8 per cent of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. That may sound like a small percentage but, according to Waterwise, Scottish Water is Scotland’s largest user of electricity, which demonstrates the significance of the water industry’s contribution to the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the UK Government conversion factors for greenhouse gas reporting, 0.344 kg CO2e can be attributed to each cubic metre of mains water. Water companies are tackling their emissions in a number of ways, including upgrading vehicle fleets, installing on-site solar power systems and advanced anaerobic digestion plants, and establishing natural wetland treatment sites. However, there is another important area where
water companies are seeking to reduce their carbon footprints and that is by saving water.

First, water companies are investing in better techniques and technologies for finding and fixing leaks in the network of underground pipes. Second, there is a drive to reduce demand from consumers.

Metering is a key weapon in the fight to reduce demand and consumption – and thereby achieve Net Zero. On the one hand, the meter data can indicate if there is a leak while, on the other hand, visibility of consumption data encourages users to save water. Smart metering also opens the door to new tariff structures, such as rising block tariffs in which the unit charge rises for progressively higher volumes of water taken by customers. This acts as a further incentive to use less water.

In an ideal world, every user would have a meter that would be read sufficiently frequently to provide a clear picture of consumption – and leakage. However, it is not an ideal world and there are still households without meters, as well as commercial and industrial (C&I) users with meters that are classed as Long Unread Meters (LUM), or whose bills are based on Business Assessed price bands or estimates, rather than meter readings. Waterwise has recommended allowing water companies to introduce full metering, and for meters to be installed in the majority of homes by 2030 and the proportion of smart meters to be increased.

Whereas the electricity industry has gone a long way down the road with smart metering, there are significant challenges for implementing smart metering in the water industry. For example, water meters do not have an integral power supply unlike electricity meters, so smart water metering needs to be battery-powered. In addition, meters are typically installed below ground level, often submerged in water or mud.

Where water meter readings have been semi-automated, the systems have been proven to be less than ideal. For household meters fitted with sensors that transmit data over low powered radio or Bluetooth, it is still necessary for a person with a reading device to drive or walk close enough to the meter to collect the reading. C&I meters equipped with data loggers that calculate consumption based on pressure and flow or via the pulse output, but this technology can only calculate consumption, so periodic manual reads are still required.

Despite these known issues, Water UK strongly supports the use of smart metering rather than manual meters [4]. A report prepared for Water UK concluded that smart metering, in conjunction with a mandatory water labelling scheme (with minimum standards), was the best strategy for maximising demand reductions, with a forecast saving of 82 litres of water per household per day by 2065 [5].

Fortunately, there is now a technology that enables existing water meters to be retrofitted with smart functionality at far lower cost and without the drawbacks of conventional approaches. The hardware is battery-powered, withstands long-term submersion in water or mud, transmits a time/date stamped image of the register read via the GSM (mobile phone) network at intervals defined by the client. Installation only takes around 10 minutes, with no need to dismantle the meter or interrupt the supply.

Deer Technology’s patented LimpetReader is an ultra-compact opto-electronic device that attaches to an existing meter faceplate with optical tape or adhesive. Each LimpetReader incorporates multiple micro-cameras for imaging the register. The images are date- and time-stamped before being transmitted by an AutoReader to Deer Technology’s secure server. When water meters are situated close together, multiple LimpetReaders can be connected to a single AutoReader.

Once the individual images have been uploaded to the server, they are stitched together to create a high-quality, distortion-free image of the meter’s register. Software then converts the register image to a numerical value, which is stored with the image. Data and images can be accessed by the customer in a variety of ways, depending on the requirements. Deer Technology’s comprehensive service covers everything from installation through to data management.

Water companies and consumers can utilise this technology to help identify leaks and reduce demand. LimpetReaders can play a significant role in helping to save water and, in turn, help the water industry achieve Net Zero.

The Environment Agency says water metering alone can reduce a household’s consumption by 10-15 per cent, and smart metering and structured tariffs could achieve further reductions. Importantly, a proportion of the water saved by reducing demand and fixing leaks will be hot water. The carbon footprint of hot water is in the order of ten times higher than that of mains water due to the energy required to heat it.

Of course, there is another benefit of upgrading meters for remote reading: reduced emissions associated with meter readings. With conventional meters, somebody needs to travel in a van to and from the meter’s location. Despite multiple meters being read during each trip, the emissions per meter soon add up. Even if the vans are electric, there is still a significant carbon footprint associated with their manufacture, maintenance and end-of-life disposal.

Find out more about Deer Technology’s LimpetReader for remote meter reading at https://deertechnology.com, telephone 01639 363146 or email hello@deertechnology.com.

Water meters are read manually or they are equipped with AMR (automated meter reading) technology. However, traditional AMR meters still need periodic manual reads to confirm the register reading. Taking manual readings of water meters, is fraught with difficulties due to location, including difficult or dangerous access, meters that are submerged in deep chambers, damaged or broken, and meters whose location is unknown. As a result, it is estimated that around 15% of water meters in this country are classed as long unread meters (LUM).

Without accurate, timely meter readings, it is simply impossible for water wholesalers and retailers to provide the requisite standard of service to customers. Indeed, Emma Kelso, Senior Director at Ofwat, said recently in a report of findings on water company billing inaccuracies: “Data quality is vital to a successful business retail market and the benefits that it can bring for customers. Water companies and retailers have legal obligations they must fulfil in ensuring the data they are responsible for is complete and accurate.” 

She added: “The importance and value of data is growing, and company boards must have a strong focus on this when providing their assurances that they are able to effectively provide their regulated services.”

There is no escaping the fact that damaged or broken meters need to be repaired or replaced, and meters whose locations are unknown need to be found. Nevertheless, there are millions of water meters in the non-household and household sectors that could be retrofitted with ‘smart’ technology, making a vast difference to the quality of water wholesalers’ and retailers’ data.

Deer Technology’s quick and cost-effective solution to this problem is to retrofit analogue water meters with compact LimpetReader devices connected to AutoReader transmitters. The AutoReader currently communicates with the company’s secure servers using GSM or Wi-Fi technology with other communication protocols in the development pipeline. 

A LimpetReader is bonded permanently to a meter’s faceplate and takes digital photographs of the register. The date- and time-stamped image files are processed on the server so as to convert them into meter readings. Once the LimpetReader is installed, which takes 15 minutes or less, there should be no need to revisit the meter. Furthermore, the LimpetReader continues to operate even if the meter becomes submerged in water or mud.

The system has been developed in the UK and benefits from patented technology. It features robust and reliable hardware, enabling water wholesalers and retailers to obtain accurate, timely meter readings for billing customers. There is no reliance on the meter’s pulsed output; instead, the system uses images of the register and is therefore akin to taking manual readings, but without the human error element and carbon footprint impact.

Whether the LimpetReader is bonded to the faceplate directly or via a clear adapter plate, the register remains visible in case it ever needs to be read manually. Thanks to the range of adapter plates available, LimpetReader are compatible with all types of analogue water meter encountered in the UK. Furthermore, there is no need to dismantle the meter or interrupt the supply when installing a LimpetReader.

Find out more about Deer Technology’s LimpetReader for remote meter reading at https://deertechnology.com, telephone 01639 363146 or email hello@deertechnology.com. 

Amid an unprecedented global climate crisis, the need for business and industry to reduce its carbon footprint has never been more vital. “Businesses both large and small, across all sectors of the global economy, have a crucial role to play in both reducing their environmental impact and developing the green technologies that will set us on the path to net zero” Business and Industry Minister Lee Rowley announced this week (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cop26-sees-uk-businesses-lead-the-world-in-climate-change-commitments).

By retro-fitting Deer Technology’s LimpetReader to an existing analogue energy meter facilities managers and building owners can gain the advantages of a smart meter, cost-effectively and with no downtime. An image of the meter register and corresponding time- and date-stamped data value is immediately available via a secure online database. The availability of accurate billing information without the need to take visual reads eliminates the carbon from the “man in a van” who no longer needs to visit site and when used on water meters, the LimpetReader can help users profile data and detect leaks, especially in periods of non-occupancy. The first step to reducing energy consumption is to be able to monitor usage and identify trends and spikes, and if you can’t measure, you can’t monitor!

Visit Deer Technology at Stand A16 to see a demonstration of the LimpetReader and AutoReader and let the team find a solution to help your business reduce its carbon footprint.

Even where meters are read regularly, whether that is annually, quarterly, or monthly, patterns of consumption and trends can be hard to identify. In contrast, automated meter reading (AMR) systems providing half-hourly readings give a far better picture of consumption that enables usage patterns to be analysed – but is the information reliable and can it be relied on for accurate billing?

Depending on the utility and the design of the meter itself, different technologies can be used to generate the data for AMR (also sometimes referred to as automatic meter reading or advanced meter reading). The base assumption is that the meter itself is accurate, or at least sufficiently accurate that recalibration is not necessary during its operating life, which might be 10 years for an electricity meter and 25 years for a water meter. However, AMR systems that rely on a rotating magnet to actuate a reed switch and generate a pulsed output can suffer from a problem known as drift. This is because the magnet does not actuate the reed switch 100 per cent reliably, so the number of pulses generated is often slightly less than it should be. As a result, the AMR system can under-read, which is why periodic confirmatory manual reads are required. Under-reading is detrimental to the retailer’s cashflow, while customers dislike receiving occasional bills that are higher than expected because they are based on manual reads rather than those from the AMR system. Over-reading is also problematic, though not as common as under-reading.

Another issue with many water AMR systems is that although there is no need for the meter to be read manually, it is still necessary to collect ‘drive by’ readings. This requires a reading device installed in a vehicle, to identify meters and their readings and ensure customers are billed correctly.

However, such mobile meter reading, as with manual reads, is dependent on a person and a vehicle. This is relatively costly and, furthermore, the vehicle emits polluting exhaust gases. Utilities retailers are under pressure to improve their green credentials, so they are eager to find ways to reduce their use of vehicles. With self-driving electric vehicles not yet market-ready, the preference is to eliminate the need for vehicles.

An alternative to the drive-by system is an AMR device that automatically transfer the pulse output data to a centralised database. This reduces the number of person/vehicle visits but does not eliminate them because this type of system does not satisfy the non-household market code for readings. Manual (visual) check reads are still required at least annually due to the AMR devices’ potential for drift.

One other issue with AMR systems that is of concern to both retailers and consumers is the installation cost. Typically, it costs around £1000 to £1500 to install a conventional AMR device. If a business or landlord is considering installing AMR for submetering, the costs can quickly become prohibitive. Moreover, some meters cannot be retrofitted with AMR, meaning they must be replaced at even greater expense, and with the added inconvenience of supply interruption.

Clearly AMR systems do not solve all the meter reading problems for end users or retailers. Smart metering has often been portrayed as a panacea, particularly for electricity metering, but smart metering has limitations too. First-generation SMETS1 meters quickly gained a reputation for not being user-friendly when households switched supplier, and now SMETS2 meters are being found to have issues, particularly when switching supplier. In the non-household (NHH) market, consumers are sometimes charged relatively high fees for accessing the data from smart meters, which negates some if not all the benefits that can accrue from efficiency savings.

Cost-effective solution

Fortunately, there is another way to improve access to water and electricity consumption data, and the same technology will be available for gas meters soon. Deer Technology’s LimpetReader is a cost-effective, battery-powered opto-electronic device that attaches to the meter’s faceplate with optical tape or adhesive. Installation takes around 10 minutes, with no need to dismantle the meter or interrupt the supply, and the meter’s register remains visible should a visual read be necessary. Dual-register meters are fitted with two LimpetReaders to capture readings from both registers. The LimpetReader is battery-powered, maintenance-free, and immune to drift because it simply reads the value displayed by the meter. If a LimpetReader was removed or tampered with, this would be identifiable from the data output.

For regulatory purposes, the patented LimpetReader is unique among automated reading systems in that readings are classified as ‘visual’. This means suppliers never need to send anyone to read the meter manually.

To make the LimpetReader as compact as possible, it incorporates multiple micro-cameras for imaging the register. The images are date- and time-stamped before being transmitted to Deer Technology’s secure server by an AutoReader transmitter. 

Images are sent over any of the UK’s four mobile phone networks using proven, reliable 2G (GSM) technology – though 4G and 5G systems are currently in development and a Wi-Fi option is also available. In the event of a network outage, the LimpetReader devices can be read locally via Bluetooth using an Android app on a smartphone or tablet, or with a low-cost dedicated handheld reader. Multiple LimpetReaders can be linked to a single AutoReader transmitter, which can be ideal for some submetering applications. 

Once on the server, the images are stitched together to create a high-quality, distortion-free image of the meter’s register. This is then decoded into a numerical value, which is stored together with the high-quality image of the register. Data and images can be accessed by the customer in a variety of ways, depending on the requirements. For instance, an API (application programming interface) can be provided, data sent as spreadsheet files, or dashboards created for high-quality reporting.

Deer Technology provides a comprehensive service covering everything from meter installation through to data management. The service starts with a customer consultation to establish the optimum overall solution to the problem of meter reads and data management. Deer Technology installs the LimpetReaders and AutoReaders, then provides a data service for reporting, visualisation and delivering data to the customer’s databases as required. In many cases, the cost of using the intelligent LimpetReader system is less than retailers charge for accessing smart meter data, so there can be advantages in installing LimpetReaders even if smart metering has already been implemented. It is estimated that 99 per cent of all the electricity sub-meters and water meters currently in use in the UK could be retrofitted with LimpetReaders.

A helpful feature of Deer Technology’s system is that the reading frequency is normally set at monthly intervals, but customers can request other frequencies. For example, if electricity consumption patterns are to be investigated, quarter- or half-hourly meter readings could be requested during normal operating hours. For checking water consumption, meter readings could be requested at the start and end of each working day, enabling potential leaks to be identified through excessive overnight consumption. In contrast, conventional AMR systems on water meters can generate vast amounts of data that are difficult to manage.

If a meter is classified as long unread, the LimpetReader is attractive because the meter only has to be accessed once for the device to be installed. After that, it never needs to be accessed again. Compared with alternative technologies, therefore, it is worth making the extra effort to locate and access long unread meters because it only has to be done once. It is also quicker and easier to fit the LimpetReader than to retrofit other AMR technologies or swap the meter for a smart meter.

Find out more about Deer Technology’s LimpetReader for converting analogue meters to smart meters or for use alongside smart metering at https://deertechnology.com, telephone 01639 363146 or email hello@deertechnology.com. 

Trafford Leisure needed to obtain regular, reliable data to fully understand their consumption patterns and cost.  Unfortunately, the location of the water meter, deep inside a manhole on another business’ property which is frequently flooded, meant the water retailer was unable to fulfil this need with regular manual readings. To take control of the situation, Trafford Leisure turned to Deer Technology.  The LimpetReader was developed to be installed quickly without interrupting the supply and with minimal ongoing costs. The LimpetReader attaches to the faceplate of the existing meter and incorporates multiple miniature cameras that capture the entire meter register display at time intervals specified by the customer.  The images are then automatically and securely sent to the Deer Technology’s server where the images are converted into a date and time stamped data value. Trafford Leisure is then able to import the data into the proprietary systems for analysis, allowing trends to be identified and inaccurate estimated bills disputed with the retailer.

As well as making sure the billing is correct, regular readings can help identify leaks.  An unexpected rise in consumption during operational hours or a record of usage out of hours would lead to costly leaks being rectified quickly. Trafford Leisure is impressed with the LimpetReader and the service provided by Deer Technology and has already rolled out to other facilities.  As Kevin Henderson, Head of Assets & IT at Trafford Leisure explained:

“Water is precious. Using less helps us not only financially but critically also contributes to reducing our carbon footprint. Trafford Council declared a climate emergency in 2018, so every drop of water saved really does matter. The LimpetReader has allowed our staff to access accurate, reliable data via Deer Technology’s Cloud portal. This has been a game changer for us in managing water more effectively. There are health and safety benefits for our staff as there is no need to access the meter which is located inside a manhole, and financial benefits for our accounts team in monitoring water bills. I would highly recommend Deer Technology and the LimpetReader to anyone, but especially to industries where water is a key component of their business”.

As the LimpetReader does not suffer from drift, like some other automated meter reading systems, and the readings are ‘visual’, the retailer would never need to take confirmatory manual readings.  This is an attractive proposition for Trafford Leisure’s water retailer which is in discussion with Deer Technology about automatically obtaining monthly meter readings.

Find out more about Deer Technology’s LimpetReader by visiting  https://deertechnology.com, telephone 01639 363146 or email hello@deertechnology.com.

To convert an analogue meter, the compact, battery-powered LimpetReader is attached to the faceplate using optical adhesive or tape; installation typically takes around 10 minutes, with no need to dismantle the meter or disconnect the supply. For dual-register meters, two LimpetReaders are installed to capture readings from each register. If desired, a meter can still be read manually without disturbing the LimpetReader.

Deer Technology has designed the LimpetReader to be extremely compact so that it fits easily within a meter cabinet. A key element of the opto-electronic device’s design is multiple micro-cameras that capture date- and time-stamped images of the meter’s register. These are sent automatically to Deer Technology’s secure servers using GSM technology over any of the UK’s established mobile phone networks. Once on the server, the individual images are stitched together with image processing software to create a single, distortion-free register image. This is converted to a numerical value for the electricity consumption.

The LimpetReader is uniquely classified as a visual read for regulatory purposes. As a result, suppliers are not obliged to visit the meter periodically to take confirmatory visual readings, which is in stark contrast to AMR systems.

For electricity wholesalers and retailers, the LimpetReader offers cost reductions because visual readings are no longer required. There are also environmental benefits through not having to use vehicles to visit meters, as well as health and safety benefits from eliminating site visits. Fines for failing to read meters are eliminated, accurate consumption data is available and billing is more accurate through the elimination of estimated readings. As a result, customer satisfaction and retention are improved.

Customer benefits include accurate billing based on real-time data not estimates, the ability to choose read frequencies, and better visibility of data that can help cut consumption, save costs and reduce carbon footprint. If different areas of a site have separate meters, energy usage can easily be allocated to relevant cost centres. Similarly, building owners can use LimpetReaders for sub-metering and billing tenants.

Deer Technology provides a comprehensive service covering meter installation through to data management. The service starts with a customer consultation – and the customer could be a wholesaler, retailer, asset manager or consumer. Having agreed the optimum overall solution to the problem of meter reads and data management, Deer Technology then installs the LimpetReaders and delivers a data service for reporting, visualisation and exporting data to the customer’s databases as required.

For more information about Deer Technology’s LimpetReader for converting analogue water meters to smart meters, go to www.deertechnology.com telephone 01639 363146 or email hello@deertechnology.com.

Interfering with electricity supplies and meters can be extremely dangerous. Electric shock can cause burns, injury or death, not only for the culprit but also cohabitants, neighbours, future tenants, housing association staff and contractors. As they are landlords, housing associations have a statutory responsibility for electrical safety as well as a duty to prevent personal injury caused by defects in the property. They also have a duty of care towards staff and contractors.

Aside from the hazards relating to tampering with the electricity supply and meter, there are financial reasons for wanting to prevent or detect energy theft. For example, there will be shared services such as lifts and lighting in communal areas that unscrupulous tenants might view as an easy source of ‘free’ electricity. Although the resultant increase in electricity consumption might be relatively small, particularly for larger blocks of flats, the costs add up over time. Early visibility of an unexplained increase in consumption would enable action to be taken quickly and money saved – as well as hazards eliminated.

Similarly, voids can be targets for energy thieves, so housing associations would ideally monitor consumption from empty homes to ensure the supplies are not being tampered with. 

Even when tenants have direct contracts with electricity retailers, there are reasons why housing associations wish to prevent or detect energy theft or ‘meter cheating’. We have already discussed the risk of electric shock but there is also the risk of fire. This is a major concern for all housing associations, and even more so in high-rise tower blocks. In addition, housing associations often find themselves footing the bill when energy theft has been discovered and repairs have to be carried out to the meter, wiring and property. Or, if they claim on their insurance, it could affect future premiums.

An increasingly common reason for energy theft is to power the cultivation of cannabis, either on a small scale or on an almost industrial scale as cannabis farms. Housing associations want to avoid this because of the risks associated with electric shock and fire, plus they do not want illegal activities taking place. A particular problem with cannabis cultivation is that the culprits cause damage to the property that can cost thousands of pounds to rectify.

Finally, there is another important point relating to energy theft. In 2019 the UK Government legislated to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. One result of this has been to put pressure on housing associations to decarbonise the UK’s social housing stock, though housing associations in some areas need to move even faster because local authorities have committed to decarbonisation by 2030. Reducing energy theft will help to achieve this goal.

In the battle against energy theft, a vital weapon is metering. Traditional analogue electricity meters tend to be read so infrequently that the information is of limited value – and that assumes meter readers are granted access to the meter, which is unlikely if it has been tampered with. Smart devices can provide a level of detail that is simply not possible otherwise, and this provides the visibility necessary to fight energy theft. A spike in consumption might indicate that a tenant’s electricity is being diverted to another property, while a sudden drop to little or no consumption could be a tell-tale sign of a meter being bypassed. Monitoring the pattern of consumption for communal lighting, lifts and other electrical equipment can also identify increases that could be due to theft.

What many housing associations would like today is accurate electricity meter reads at a frequency of their choosing. Ideally, the necessary hardware would be installed quickly without interrupting the supply, and the costs of installation and data provision should be low enough that they can be readily justified.

Depending on the contractual arrangements, housing associations could also provide the meter readings to the electricity retailers, so the latter would no longer need access to the properties to take visual readings.

Cost-effective solution

Fortunately, all of these problems can be solved cost-effectively by Deer Technology’s LimpetReader. This clever, battery-powered opto-electronic device attaches to the meter’s faceplate with optical tape or adhesive. There is no need to dismantle the meter or interrupt the supply. Installation takes around 10 minutes and the meter’s register remains visible should a visual read be necessary. Dual-register meters are fitted with two LimpetReaders to capture readings from both registers.

If a LimpetReader was removed or tampered with, this would be identifiable from the data output.

For regulatory purposes, the patented LimpetReader is unique among automated reading systems in that readings are classified as ‘visual’. This means suppliers never need to send anyone to read the meter manually.

To make the LimpetReader as compact as possible, it incorporates multiple micro-cameras for imaging the register. The images are date- and time-stamped before being transmitted to Deer Technology’s secure server. 

Images are sent to the server via GSM technology over any of the UK’s four mobile phone networks. Multiple LimpetReader devices can be linked to a single AutoReader transmitter, which is ideal for housing associations with multiple tenants in a single building. Once on the server, the images are stitched together to create a high-quality, distortion-free image of the meter’s register. This is then decoded into a numerical value, which is stored together with the high-quality image of the register. Data and images can be accessed by the customer in a variety of ways, depending on the requirements. For instance, an API (application programming interface) can be provided, data sent as spreadsheet files, or dashboards created for high-quality reporting.

Deer Technology provides a comprehensive service covering everything from meter installation through to data management. The service starts with a customer consultation to establish the optimum overall solution to the problem of meter reads and data management. Deer Technology installs the LimpetReaders and AutoReaders, then provides a data service for reporting, visualisation and delivering data to the customer’s databases as required.

As we have already discussed, data visibility helps to identify energy theft and retrofitting conventional meters with smart technologies provides a range of additional benefits for housing associations and tenants. For example, housing associations can help tenants reduce their consumption and expenditure, and cutting overall consumption supports the drive to decarbonise social housing.

Deer Technology estimates that there are millions of analogue electricity meters in social housing that could be converted to smart devices using its LimpetReader solution. Moreover, LimpetReaders can also be used on water meters to deliver similar benefits: accurate billing, better visibility of consumption data to enable savings to be made, and an early warning of theft or leaks. Again, millions of water meters in social housing worldwide could be simply retrofitted with LimpetReaders.

Find out more about Deer Technology’s LimpetReader for converting analogue meters to smart devices at https://deertechnology.com, telephone 01639 363146 or email hello@deertechnology.com.

With the majority of social housing tenants having contracts directly with electricity suppliers, you could be forgiven for wondering how housing associations could benefit from upgrading conventional meters to smart meters. In fact, there are many advantages for both housing associations and tenants.

In 2019 the UK Government legislated to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. One result of this has been to put pressure on housing associations to decarbonise the UK’s social housing stock, though housing associations in some areas need to move even faster because local authorities have committed to decarbonisation by 2030.

There is a truism in the field of energy management, ‘If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it’. Traditional analogue electricity meters do measure electricity consumption but they tend to be read so infrequently that the information is of limited value. Smarter devices can provide a level of detail that is simply not possible otherwise, and this provides the visibility necessary to see how and where improvements can be made. Tenants with higher consumption can be helped to improve energy efficiency, and maybe the property would benefit from better insulation.

Housing associations can also benefit from a clearer picture of consumption by lifts, corridor lighting, security lighting and other communal facilities. Again, having detailed data on total consumption and patterns of consumption can enable the housing association to take action that supports decarbonisation – and, at the same time, reduce operating costs and the service charges for tenants.

Voids are a significant problem for many housing associations. If a property remains empty for an extended period, particularly in the colder months, damp can set in. This makes the property even harder to let and can also result in costly repairs being required. If heating is left on at a low level to ward off damp, the benefits can easily outweigh the costs of electricity, repairs, redecorating and loss of rent. Furthermore, monitoring the electricity consumption remotely ensures the costs are managed properly.

Damp can also be a problem with occupied properties. Monitoring electricity consumption can help to identify under-heated homes, so advice can be given to tenants and damp-related damage prevented.

Another important advantage of smarter devices for housing associations is that it provides data that can rapidly identify energy theft. If a meter has been tampered with, the sudden change of consumption can be a tell-tale sign. Similarly, if the theft is taking place from a void property or a communal area, the spike in consumption can be spotted very quickly so timely action can be taken.

Energy theft is not only costly but it is also extremely dangerous. Injuries and fatalities can occur during or after a person has tampered with the wiring or meter, but smart metering can act as a deterrent. Sometimes it is a subsequent tenant who is injured or killed as a result of a previous tenant’s tampering; updating ‘dumb’ meters to smarter devices can help to prevent this.

What many housing associations would like today is accurate electricity meter reads at a frequency of their choosing. Ideally, the necessary hardware would be installed quickly without interrupting the supply, and the costs of installation and data provision should be low enough that they can be readily justified. The same is true for all properties but the problems tend to be more acute in older housing stock.

Depending on the contractual arrangements, housing associations could also provide the meter readings to the electricity retailers, so the latter would no longer need to gain access to the properties to take visual readings.

Cost-effective solution

Fortunately, all of these problems can be solved cost-effectively by Deer Technology’s LimpetReader. This clever, battery-powered opto-electronic device attaches to the meter’s faceplate with optical tape or adhesive. There is no need to dismantle the meter or interrupt the supply. Installation takes around 10 minutes and the meter’s register remains visible should a visual read be necessary. Dual-register meters are fitted with two LimpetReaders to capture readings from both registers.

For regulatory purposes, the patented LimpetReader is unique among automated reading systems in that readings are classified as ‘visual’. This means suppliers never need to send anyone to read the meter manually.

If a LimpetReader was removed or tampered with, this would be identifiable immediately from the data output.

To make the LimpetReader as compact as possible, it incorporates multiple micro-cameras for imaging the register. The images are date- and time-stamped before being transmitted to Deer Technology’s secure server.

Images are sent to the server via GSM technology over any of the UK’s four mobile phone networks. Multiple LimpetReader devices can be linked to a single AutoReader transmitter, which is ideal for housing associations with multiple tenants in a single building. Once on the server, the images are stitched together to create a high-quality, distortion-free image of the meter’s register. This is then decoded into a numerical value, which is stored together with the high-quality image of the register. Data and images can be accessed by the customer in a variety of ways, depending on the requirements. For instance, an API (application programming interface) can be provided, data sent as spreadsheet files, or dashboards created for high-quality reporting.

Deer Technology provides a comprehensive service covering everything from meter installation through to data management. The service starts with a customer consultation to establish the optimum overall solution to the problem of meter reads and data management. Deer Technology installs the LimpetReaders and AutoReaders, then provides a data service for reporting, visualisation and delivering data to the customer’s databases as required.

As we have already discussed, data visibility helps to reduce electricity consumption, and retrofitting conventional meters with smart technologies provides a range of additional benefits for housing associations and tenants. Although wind and solar are increasing their share of the UK electricity supply mix, a substantial proportion of the UK’s electricity is still generated by burning fossil fuels. Reducing electricity consumption therefore cuts carbon emissions, which is good for the environment and helps housing associations’ decarbonisation programmes.

Deer Technology estimates that there are millions of analogue electricity meters in social housing that could be converted to smart devices using its LimpetReader solution. Moreover, LimpetReaders can also be used on water meters to deliver similar benefits: accurate billing, better visibility of consumption data to enable savings to be made, and an early warning of leaks or theft. Again, millions of water meters in social housing could be retrofitted with LimpetReaders.

Find out more about Deer Technology’s LimpetReader for converting analogue meters to smart devices at https://deertechnology.com, telephone 01639 363146 or email hello@deertechnology.com.

There are major problems with water metering in the UK’s non-household market. Why is this when metering should be straightforward? Just install a meter on every consumer’s water supply, measure consumption over a period of time and bill the consumer accordingly. Simple!

Unfortunately, the water industry is faced with a challenging situation, largely for historical reasons and we cannot turn the clock back. For a start, meters are owned by wholesalers, while retailers are the ones responsible for readings and reliant on those readings for revenue, and consumers want accurate and timely bills.

Long unread meters

A major problem stems from the incomplete market data that was made available when the non-household water market opened up four years ago. MOSL, the market operator for the non-household retail market in England, says 20% of meters in the non-household market are classified as Long Unread1. Given the reasons for them being long unread, such as unknown locations and inaccessibility, that figure is unlikely to improve significantly unless something changes in the market.

One of the consequences of unread meters is that bills are based on estimates. This is unpopular with consumers and can result in customers being overcharged, protracted disputes and a negative impact on the retailer’s cashflow. When the market was opened up it was intended that fines for failing to read meters would incentivise retailers to locate and read the meters whose position was either unknown or too difficult to access. Four years on, the system of fines has clearly not worked well enough; the situation was exacerbated by the Covid pandemic and the suspension of fines for unread meters in March 2020. Fines have recently been reinstated but, as we know from previous experience, their effectiveness is likely to be very limited.

There is another Covid-related issue that could soon have an impact on retailers. Some businesses have been operating at a lower level than usual over the past year or more, yet a high percentage of water bills have been based on over inflated yearly volume estimates. Even though these estimates have been revised downwards to reflect the Covid situation, many consumers are likely to be overpaying. As a result, retailers’ cashflow could suffer if consumers have to be refunded once meters start to be read again.

Read frequency

Under current regulations, non-household meters are read monthly or biannually, depending on the meter size and water consumption. This can lead to anomalies such as meters that are read monthly despite consumption being low. Although there is an ongoing consultation on the market code, there is no guarantee that changes will be agreed or when any changes will take effect. Retailers would prefer to see the frequency of readings reduced to annually for low-consumption customers because this will cut their meter reading costs; the disadvantage for customers is that it could then take longer to identify leaks – for which they are liable – because bills will be less frequent.

Even if meters are only read annually, concerns remain for retailers or the third parties contracted to read the meters on their behalf. Reading meters today still depends largely on a ‘man in a van’ which impacts negatively on the retailer’s environmental credentials. Furthermore, there are both direct and indirect costs associated with labour and vehicles. Health and safety is another issue to consider whenever people read meters, as meters are often located in difficult-to-access meter pits requiring the removal and replacement of heavy cast iron covers.

AMR and smart metering

Many in the water industry were optimistic that AMR (automatic meter reading) and smart metering would offer a solution to many of these problems. Nevertheless, the roll-out has been slow. According to MOSL1, 23.9% of meters have AMR technology, 1.5% are smart and the remaining 74.6% are still dumb. Replacing meters is expensive and adding smart technology incurs even greater costs due to the infrastructure requirements. Consequently, the return on investment is questionable, although wholesalers operating in areas with water stress might be driven to install AMR or smart meters in order to identify and rectify leaks.

Changing the meter also necessitates interrupting the supply, which is unpopular and potentially costly for non-household consumers that cannot operate while their supply is disconnected. 

Even if a meter is of the pulsed type, in many cases a pulse reader would need to be installed by the wholesaler in order that the pulse feed can be sent via the network for translation into a meter reading.

Technological solutions

Unfortunately, there is no panacea; no automated system that can locate all meters and read them with the desired frequency, regardless of accessibility, and with no up-front investment or ongoing costs. But this is 2021, technology is evolving rapidly and the global pandemic has shown that technology can be an incredible enabler if we need it to.

Today, technology is available in the form of a compact device for retrofitting to existing meters. Integral opto-electronics capture images of the register that are then transmitted to a secure database for conversion to a meter reading. The hardware only takes round 15 minutes to fit without interrupting the supply, and the data is transmitted via GSM for accurate, near real-time billing. This technology can be implemented by anyone wanting to read meters remotely, whether they are a retailer, consumer or wholesaler.

Benefits

For retailers, the benefits include reduced reading costs, improved health and safety, and enhanced environmental credentials. In a market with little to differentiate retailers, this type of metering also offers a competitive advantage by helping to win new customers and improve customer retention. Alternatively, consumers may choose to install the devices so they no longer have to pay estimated bills. Meanwhile, wholesalers will appreciate the reliable, timely data that can give an early indication of leaks – which is particularly important in areas with water stress. 

The National Trust is already using the patented devices, known as LimpetReaders, which have been developed by Deer Technology. A spokesperson from the National Trust said: “The LimpetReader is a great solution and gives us accurate meter reads and, importantly, we are only paying for what we use.”

Deer Technology is hoping it can obtain blanket approval from wholesalers to enable meters to be upgraded without having to obtain permission on a meter-by-meter basis. Access to the data is governed by the contractual arrangements between the technology provider and its customers.

The LimpetReader is just one technological solution to the problem of water metering in the UK and it only addresses some of the challenges facing the industry. However, if LimpetReaders were installed on those meters whose locations are known, it would be a relatively quick, easy and cost-effective way to make a substantial difference.

For more information about Deer Technology’s LimpetReader for converting analogue water meters to smart meters, go to www.deertechnology.com telephone 01639 363146 or email hello@deertechnology.com. 

1. MOSL report ‘A focus on accurate and timely consumption data’ by John Davies and Martin Hall, 2021.