Businesses urged to comply with smart metering requirements

15 February 2013

Businesses across the northwest are being urged to have their gas and electricity meters changed over to smart meters, if they are subject to the mandatory switchover that must occur by 2014

Low energy and sustainable solutions provider, Inteb, which has a head office near Preston and an operations office in Wirral, is urging businesses not to leave it until the last minute to make the switch. It also advises that tangible benefits can be gained by businesses that voluntarily adopt smart metering now.

Next-generation gas and electricity meters must be installed by 2014 by those businesses that have a Profile Class 05-08 electricity meter. Businesses with a gas meter using over 732,000 kWh a year also have to make the switch by this deadline, installing what is known as an AMR.

Inteb is already handling a meter change programme and quickly getting businesses up to speed with AMR technology. This displays how much energy is being used and communicates this information direct to the energy supplier via mobile phone type signals.

This has the advantage of assisting cash flow, as bills are accurate and not estimated. Additionally, any inconvenience caused by having to allow a meter reader into the property is removed.

This technology hands power to the business owner, as they can see how they are using energy and change behaviours to reduce consumption. Inteb can not only arrange for a smart meter installation, but also use the data transmitted from it to help a business save energy and lower their bills.

Inteb can also handle installations for businesses that have multiple sites around the country and take ownership of the switchover project, staging installations to an agree plan.

Inteb’s Utilities Project Manager, Les Edwards, says: “Although smart meters will be mandatory for certain businesses by 2014, it makes sense to change a meter over to an AMR now, as the savings that can accrue from the installation and the process behind it can make it financially advantageous.

“It is also advisable to make the switch well before the deadline, so that your business can comply with the legislation immediately, rather than potentially waiting for a changeover date as last-minute demand floods the available installation network”.

To find out more about how your business can make the move to an AMR, contact Les Edwards on 0151 346 2084. More information about Inteb can be found at www.inteb.co.uk