A standard approach to gas metering

04 March 2010

ESTA has developed the AMR Service Providers Code of Practice (ASPCoP) for gas metering which defines the operations, standards and methods by which metered gas consumption data is read and supplied to customers, energy suppliers or others.

The provision of advanced or smart metering to every business and household over the next decade could finally mean an end to estimated bills. For business and public sector customers the installation of the new metering is due to be complete by March 2014. While there are standard operating procedures in the electricity market managed by Elexon, there is no equivalent in the gas market where operating practices and formats vary from supplier to supplier.
With the agreement of all the major parties to the gas market – including major customers, energy suppliers, Ofgem and Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) Service Providers – the Energy Services and Technology Association (ESTA) has developed the AMR Service Providers Code of Practice (ASPCoP) for gas metering. This defines the operations, standards and methods by which metered gas consumption data is read and supplied to customers, energy suppliers or others. By providing a regularised system it ensures that customers have assurance about the data accuracy, integrity and completeness to be achieved as well as the service levels they can expect from accredited ASPs. ASPCoP can also be used in specifications and tenders for AMR service provision. Click here to read
Over the last decade or more, advances in electronics and software, combined with downward pressure on component costs, have delivered the technologies collectively known as advanced and smart metering and automatic Monitoring & Targeting (aM&T). Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) has been a key element in this. Given the inaccessibility of many meters, this has been a boon to both meter owners and customers. This technology is now well-proven enough for the Government to endorse it for a national roll-out of advanced and smart metering in the UK.
A critical part of the plan for comprehensive advanced and smart metering throughout the UK is the need for a standard approach to data collection and provision. The new standard Code of Practice for Automatic Meter Reading service providers allows that to happen in the gas market. Whilst voluntary, the Code is accepted widely by service providers and industry.
Alan Aldridge, Executive Director of ESTA, commented: “The first Automatic Meter Reading Service Providers (ASPs) to be accredited under this Code of Practice have now completed their assessment process. Specifying an ASPCoP-accredited Automatic Meter Reading Service Provider (ASP) within your data collection contract gives you a quality assurance and confidence backed by the major bodies working in the gas metering market.”
Details of ASPCoP and accredited service providers at: