Assets and utilities are sometimes managed using spreadsheets, though specialised software is becoming more common today. A key advantage of using software is that some management processes can be automated. However, water metering often proves difficult to integrate satisfactorily in software tools and automated processes due to the prevalence of traditional ‘dumb’ meters. Deer Technology’s patented LimpetReader not only makes integration straightforward, but it also offers a number of additional benefits for facilities managers and energy managers.

The LimpetReader is battery-powered, withstands long-term submersion in water or mud and can be retrofitted to any type of analogue water meter to provide ‘smart’ functionality. It is bonded to the meter’s faceplate, though the meter’s register remains visible in case a visual read is necessary. Nevertheless, there should be no need to take confirmatory readings because the system is immune from drift and the automated readings are treated as visual readings. Installing a LimpetReader only takes around 15 minutes and there is no need to interrupt the water supply.

Each LimpetReader incorporates opto-electronics and is connected to an AutoReader equipped with GSM (mobile phone) or Wi-Fi communication technology. Time- and date-stamped images of the meter’s register are uploaded to secure servers at set time intervals, whereupon software converts the register images to numerical values. The consumption data can then be accessed in a variety of ways, which can make it easy for importing into facilities management or other software packages. 

As a result, data visibility is improved significantly, enabling facilities manages and energy managers to have a clearer picture of water consumption. There is an old adage that says you cannot manage what you cannot measure and, with LimpetReaders providing near-real-time data, water consumption can now be managed properly for the first time.

Most importantly, water bills can be compared with figures for the actual consumption and, if necessary, bills can be disputed and corrected. In addition, when measures are implemented to reduce water consumption, the impact can be seen and quantified immediately.

Any reduction in water consumption results in a direct monetary saving but there are other benefits as well. For example, some water meters are difficult to access and therefore never read. But a meter only needs to be accessed once for installing a LimpetReader, after which its location is immaterial.

Another benefit relates to environmental considerations. Many businesses today are concerned about their ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) performance, or they simply want to improve their carbon footprint. High-quality data from LimpetReaders can be used to demonstrate how a firm’s environmental performance is improving, as every litre of water saved reduces the carbon footprint. And remember that the carbon footprint for a litre of hot water is around ten times that of mains water.

Monitoring water consumption provides visibility of incremental improvements when changes are made, yet even bigger gains can be made if a leak is identified and fixed in a timely manner. With data generated at regular time intervals, it is easy to spot deviations from consumption patterns. If software is being used, it may be possible for such deviations to trigger alarms automatically, so leak investigations can be initiated. If a leak is identified and fixed early, it can minimise the amount of water wasted and also avoid the need for costly repairs in the event of the premises or equipment therein sustaining water damage. And the avoidance of wasted management time will be much appreciated by those with ever-tighter budgets.

As can be seen, the potential savings available from monitoring water consumption are significant. So much so, that they can quickly outweigh the cost of retrofitting LimpetReaders.

The concept of ‘smart’ metering in the water industry is not new. However, other systems suffer from drift and therefore periodic visual confirmatory readings are still required. Furthermore, these systems may require the meter to be replaced, which is costly and disruptive because it entails disconnecting the water supply. In contrast, the LimpetReader avoids all of these drawbacks.

Deer Technology’s comprehensive service covers everything from installation through to data management. 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. 

Businesses are coming under pressure to improve their ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) performance, particularly now agencies are calculating and awarding ESG ratings. These range from CCC for laggards not managing their long-term exposure to ESG risk factors, up to AAA for those managing the risks well and taking advantage of the opportunities.

ESG ratings are becoming more important for investors interested in long-term performance and value, as well as private company owners – especially those who may consider divesting in the future. For this present article, we are focusing on the needs of property landlords in the industrial and commercial sector, and the importance of them managing water consumption.

Currently there is no standard for what ESG ratings include or how they are calculated. However, all ESG ratings should take into account the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) initiative developed by a United Nations-led international network of investors. 

The factors considered when calculating an ESG rating are many and varied. For example, the social score includes human capital issues, product liability and social opportunities such as access to healthcare for workers. For the governance score, factors range from the diversity and independence of the board, through to accounting practices and business ethics. In this present article we are primarily interested in the environmental score. This section is broad-based and considers pollution and waste, climate change and environmental opportunities. Drilling down further, we find two points of particular interest: carbon emissions and water sourcing.

It may sound surprising until you think about it, but every litre of mains water has a carbon footprint. According to the UK Government conversion factors for greenhouse gas reporting [1], 0.344 kg CO2e can be attributed to each cubic metre of mains water. These emissions stem mainly from the energy required for pumping and treating water, and for servicing buildings and vehicles. Water and sewage treatment also result in direct emissions of two greenhouse gases, methane and nitrous oxide. 

It should also be borne in mind that greenhouse gas emissions for hot water are around ten times higher because of the heat energy required.

Clearly, reducing water consumption has a direct impact on carbon emissions. As well as improving ESG ratings, minimising water usage also benefits companies that are striving for net zero emissions. 

In addition, cutting consumption helps to improve ESG ratings through the reduced demand placed on the water source. In some areas of the UK, water is in relatively short supply, especially in the summer and if drought conditions prevail, so the responsible course of action is to use less. For areas not classified as being in serious water stress, an increasing population means consumption needs to be managed.

There is no doubt about the increasing importance of ESG ratings though it has to be said that they are not without controversy. This is partly because there is no international standard against which ratings can be calculated and partly due to the reliance on qualitative metrics. However, water consumption can be measured, so reliable values for reductions in consumption can be obtained. An old adage states that you cannot manage what you cannot measure and, fortunately, water consumption can be measured.

According to the Environment Agency [2], 50 per cent of households in England have water meters, ranging from 28 per cent for Portsmouth Water to 84 per cent for Southern Water. In contrast, almost all non-household (NHH) customers have metered supplies and a portion of the bill normally relates to the volume of water consumed. However, the reality is less straightforward for a variety of reasons.

Many commercial and industrial (C&I) users have meters that are classed as Long Unread Meters (LUM), or their bills are based on Business Assessed price bands or estimates, rather than meter readings. There are several reasons for meters being unread, such as their whereabouts being unknown or their location making them difficult or hazardous to read. Where meters are equipped with pulse counters that enable volumetric consumption to be calculated from pressure and flow, these can suffer from drift, resulting in inaccurate readings. Periodic manual (visual) readings are therefore required but patterns of data are difficult to analyse – if not meaningless – for facilities managers implementing water-saving measures.

A further benefit of accurate, timely water consumption data is that it can help identify leaks. If a company is billed on the basis of meter readings, the cost of a water leak can soon become very high, so it is vital to find and repair leaks quickly. This financial saving is, of course, on top of the benefits relating to ESG ratings.

Ideally, every water supply would have a smart meter and the data would be visible to consumers – in much the same way as smart electricity meters have been rolled out for households. However, smart metering is more difficult to implement on water supplies. For a start, there is no integral power supply unlike electricity meters and, furthermore, water meters are typically installed below ground level, often submerged in water or mud.

Despite these challenges, property landlords and facilities managers seeking to improve ESG ratings by reducing water consumption now have an option to retrofit ‘smart’ technology to existing analogue meters. Implementing the patented technology costs less than conventional alternatives, only takes around ten minutes per meter, and there is no need to interrupt the water supply.

Known as the LimpetReader, the hardware is battery-powered, withstands long-term submersion in water or mud, and does not suffer from drift. The LimpetReader is bonded to the meter’s faceplate, though the meter’s register remains visible in case a visual read is necessary. However, there should be no need to take confirmatory readings because the system is immune from drift and readings are treated as visual readings.

Developed by Deer Technology, the LimpetReader incorporates opto-electronics and is connected to an AutoReader that uses GSM (mobile phone) or Wi-Fi communication technology. Time- and date-stamped images of the meter’s register are uploaded to secure servers, where they are converted to numerical values. Customers can then access the consumption data in a variety of ways. Deer Technology’s comprehensive service covers everything from installation through to data management.

Landlords and facilities managers can therefore monitor water consumption in an accurate and timely way. If changes are made to the way water is used, the impact can be seen almost instantaneously, with no need to wait for meter readings to be supplied by the water company. Furthermore, the data is accurate because the LimpetReader takes an image of the meter register and therefore does not suffer from drift. This hard data can be used when calculating carbon emissions and, therefore, the company’s ESG rating.

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

References:

[1] ‘Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2020’, UK Government, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2020 (accessed 26 January 2022).

[2] Environment Agency quoted in a written answer to Parliament on 16 January 2018, https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2017-12-21/121058 

, a device that can be retrofitted to any traditional analogue meter and, using micro-cameras in sealed housings to capture time-stamped images of the meter display, before sending them via secure data connection to an online portal, it replaces costly and often unreliable manual meter reads with remote, non-invasive and accurate readings for water, electricity and gas consumption.  The Port Talbot based company is now joined by Graeme Johnston and Paul Williams.

Graeme Johnston has been appointed Business Development Manager and comes with a seven-year heritage in the energy monitoring market; most recently with ASL Holdings where he worked on large-scale residential solar PV projects. He is looking forward to the challenging role with Deer Technology and comments, “I am looking to grow our UK client base across both public and private sectors, while developing relationships with global channel partners. We are looking to work with strategic partners to develop additional revenue streams through product development and partnerships and open up additional market sectors such as electric sub-metering and gas.” 

Paul Williams, Production Manager – Deer Technology

Paul Williams is the new Production Manager; he has 28 years’ expertise within the electronic production industry and is fully conversant with cutting edge electronic manufacturing techniques. His impressive background includes directing manufacturing operations, providing strategic vision and leadership to enhance productivity, increasing plant efficiency, reducing operating costs and increasing customer satisfaction. He describes his role, in part, as “a relentless drive to forge and implement operational improvements underpinned with innovative and solution-focused thinking while managing and inspiring a diverse and highly skilled workforce.”

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

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.