Smart meters improve energy performance

Smart metering is an essential tool in improving energy efficiency according to energy management company Utility Auditing

The vast majority of organisations are working in the dark when it comes to gathering accurate management information on their electricity consumption - wreaking havoc with forecasting, budgeting, bill payment and the identification of waste, according to energy management company Utility Auditing (UAL).

But new Smart Metering technology is now offering these organisations a low cost solution - giving them access to consumption readings taken every 30 minutes, 24/7 which can lead to significant cost savings.

Information is downloaded via mobile technology to provide actual consumption information for the supplier to accurately invoice against.

The data can also be accessed in user friendly graphical and tabular formats by the company to show half hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual patterns of usage.

Says Jeff Wealands, technical director for UAL: "Electricity is now one of the most costly business overheads and it is vital that businesses have access to detailed and timely management information to help profile consumption.

This can be used for a variety of purposes, including cost control and forecasting, waste minimisation and bill validation.

"This level of detailed information has previously only been available to half-hourly metered customers.

Smart meters open up this resource to smaller businesses, who often work on estimated bills and infrequent meter readings.

Using this sophisticated software we are helping companies to monitor and reduce their energy consumption - usually resulting in double digit savings".

Smart metering is an essential tool in improving energy efficiency.

Monitoring consumption in minute detail businesses can identify precisely when and where the waste is occurring and put measures in place to address the problems.

In addition, an alert function is available to advise the company of any significant increase in consumption so that waste can be tackled instantly.

The meters can be installed at low cost in various parts of a building, enabling zonal monitoring.

This can help with energy efficiency monitoring, but is also useful in apportioning costs to various departments.

By using accurate data, companies can also make significant energy procurement savings as electricity suppliers don't need to guard against estimated consumption or load factors and can provide a more competitive price.

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