Smart Metering just got even smarter
npower is to launch the first smart-meter trial in Britain to offer a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) multi-energy service, providing customers with an innovative ‘single credit balance’ function and the ability to top up their credit directly via the in-home Customer Display Unit (CDU) or even via a text message.
Designed for customers using npower’s PAYGO tariffs, the new ‘Easi-pay’ trial provides a unique way to manage energy usage and cost when allied with advanced consumption information that a smart meter can offer. The trial forms part of npower’s smartpower programme, a roll out of intelligent products and services designed to help UK households start to reduce energy usage and lower their bills ahead of the full nationwide deployment of smart meters by 2020.
The ‘Easi-pay’ trial offers participants a unique range of benefits, including:
An exclusive ‘single credit balance’ function: customers can top up both electricity and gas meters in one payment. Credit is used by either fuel where needed, putting an end to a balance running low on one meter, but unused credit sitting on the other.
SMS alerts when credit balance falls below a defined threshold.
By setting up a PayPoint account, the ability to top up credit online, through SMS and, uniquely, through the display unit itself.
A display unit showing accurate, near real time energy consumption in £ and KWh
npower is the first energy supplier to offer customers a ‘single credit balance’ function, and has worked with smart meter manufacturer Landis+Gyr to develop an enhanced Customer Display Unit (CDU) and a multi-fuel smart metering solution, and leading business and technology service provider Logica to enable communications between npower and the smart meters, creating a highly advanced smart metering system. The system not only supports smart metering but enables credit top-ups directly from the CDU – a unique function offering even more customer flexibility, particularly when bad weather can make getting to the shops difficult.
The ‘Easi-pay’ trial also offers consumers improved control of their home energy budget, sending text messages to the bill payer when the available balance drops below a set threshold, and offering them a highly flexible PAYGO service, with more options of topping up than traditional prepayment solutions. For vulnerable customers, there’s even the option of registering a second mobile phone to the meter, so a relative or carer could be alerted when the balance drops and would have the ability to make a remote payment via text message.
The CDU shows how much electricity and gas is being used, and whether that is higher or lower than average, helping trial participants to keep control of their usage. It can also receive energy saving tips directly from npower, to help customers to identify ways to reduce bills.
Dave Ford, Head of Metering Development at npower, said “this is just one of the smart meter trials we’ve currently got underway as part of our smartpower programme. We’re using the trials to develop innovative products and identify how using smart meters can benefit consumers, and with Easi-pay we’re hoping to provide customers using our Pay-As-You-Go tariffs with the flexibility, knowledge and choice to take real control of their energy use.”
Steve Cunningham, CEO for UK & Ireland at Landis+Gyr, said “npower has taken a bold and pioneering step in empowering customers to take real control of their home energy budget for the first time.
“The ability to see at a glance how much energy your home is using on a day-to-day basis and how quickly or slowly that usage is consuming your weekly budget is a critical step in helping UK householders to reduce their cost of living and their carbon footprint.”
Tara McGeehan, Director of Utilities at Logica, said, “npower’s vision in creating these services is a vital step in understanding how the capabilities of smart metering systems can enable people to change their relationship with the energy they consume and with npower.”
