COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPC
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
HEADED ITEM NO. (c)
(c) Report on Details on Whether any of ESB 21,000 units (Smart Meters) will be in South Dublin
REPLY:
Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources have indicated that the relevant aspect of the recently launched pilot in respect of Smart Metres is the Customer Behaviour Trial to commence shortly. Participants are being selected on the basis of a rigorous statistical analysis, undertaken to ensure that the sample is properly representative of Ireland’s electricity consumers both in terms of usage profiles and geographical spread. Recruitment for the CBT is currently underway and there has been a very good response rate so far. An important concern for this aspect of the pilot is the achievement of unbiased, measurable results. Therefore, it is preferable from the perspective of the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources that the amount of information about the trial in the public domain is to an extent controlled. For this reason the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources is unable to indicate whether any of ESB 21,000 Smart Meters will be in South Dublin.
The pilot phase encompasses a technology trial which will test a number of advanced metering systems and their associated IT and communications infrastructure and a customer behaviour trial, which will determine the potential of smart meters to achieve measurable change in consumer behaviour. The incorporation of gas customers into the pilot phase is being progressed. The pilot phase was launched on 15 September last. The response to the first round of invitations to participate has been positive with 30% of customers contacted expressing an interest in participating. The number of participants needed for the customer behaviour trial is 6,000.
The technology trial will look at meter functionality and supporting information and communications systems. There are many challenges involved in developing a metering system for Ireland that will facilitate the dispersed nature of our population and by extension the electricity network. This trial will involve the installation of 15,000 meters. Installation of meters for the pilot phase is under way and is expected to be completed by mid next year.
The functionality of the meters to be tested in this pilot phase includes half hourly meter reads instead of the current bi-monthly reads. This will enable a move to billing on the basis of time of use, which is far more cost effective. Advanced meters can be read remotely which does away with estimated bills. This will result in reduced costs for suppliers and improved service for consumers. Testing the capability of advanced meters to distinguish between the import and export of electricity will also form a key part of this pilot. This will facilitate the development of microgeneration where consumers generate their own electricity and sell surplus electricity back to the system.
The pilot phase overall will last eighteen months in total. This will facilitate the introduction of smart metering initiatives and resulting electricity consumption behavioural changes measured. It is important to have a trial lasting a full year so that seasonal changes in usage are captured for peak demand management purposes. The results of the pilot will inform the timing of a national roll out. The costs of the pilot to end 2008 will be approximately €6m in total. As part of the preparation for the ‘go live’ of the pilot, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is currently considering submissions from the ESB on the budget for the entire pilot phase.