Smart metering for heat networks can achieve outstanding customer service by providing accurate and timely bills, convenient prepayment options, and in-home usage information. The data from smart meters also allows heat network operators to optimize operations by understanding load profiles, reducing temperatures and pumping costs, informing future design. Bringing together cost data and control tools via smart metering systems can reduce costs for residents while improving the user experience and helping heat network operators comply with recent regulations.

1. How advanced smart metering
for heat networks is achieving
outstanding customer
services.

2. Heat networks:
A solution to decarbonising heat
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 20121909
Coal distributed
by cart across
towns and cities
Smog (from coal
fires) causes
serious health
issues
District heating
helps to deliver
heat cleanly to
high dense areas
Gas in the
Northern Sea
Government
supports district
heating: Paris
Agreement, Regs &
Sustainable
strategy
In Glasgow &
Edinburgh Smog
claimed 1,000
lives

3. The spotlight is on heat networks
Scotland
The heat network (metering and
billing) regulations

4. The spotlight is on heat networks
Scotland
The ADE & CIBSE Code of Practice
CP1

5. The spotlight is on heat networks
Scotland
The Which? Report and Myatt’s
fields Fuel Poverty Action report

6. The spotlight is on heat networks
Scotland
The Heat Trust

7. The spotlight is on heat networks
Scotland
BEIS Heat Networks Consumer
Survey

8. The spotlight is on heat networks
Scotland
The Competitions and Markets
Authority research

9. A heat network is the general term to describe both community and
district heating networks. They take heat from a central source and
distribute it to buildings and apartments within the network.
But first, what is a
heat network?

10. What about
community
heating?
7 8
9 10
11 12
Community heating is a
centralised heating system that
supplies heat and hot water to
one building block with more
than one heat customer.

11. Key issues: Uncovering the cracks
High heat losses from
pipework
Poor customer experience
High operating temperatures
Poor handover
Poorly sized plant
Incorrect
design
When things are not designed to the right loads of a heat
network, many things can go wrong… here is just a few!

12. Key issues: The apartment heating system
HARD
Design and construction
Operation and maintenance
SOFT
Knowledge & understanding
of heat networks
Transparency costs
The apartment heating system is a key issue that must be
perfected. The issues can be split into two sections:

13. What is a smart meter?
Automatic
meter
reading
In-home
display
PAYG CAD
This couldinclude half
hourly or hourly reads
being taken.
Providing transparency
and information about
their consumption history.
Research shows that
this is becoming
increasingly popular!
With 18-35 year olds
preferring
prepayment.
Stands for: Customer
Access Device.A
protocol that allows third
party devices to
exchange data with the
SMETs smart metering
system.

14. Are people ready for it?
Switch2 stats. say yes!
1 in 4
Residents use
the Switch2
app
59%of 18-34 year olds
are interested in
prepaying for their
utilities
At the
shop
Over the
phone
Post
Office
Switch2
app
68%
11%
10%
30%
Top-up options
97% agree that Switch2
online options are easy to
use
89% overall customer
satisfaction thanks to PAYG
Smart metering

15. How is smart metering relevant?
1Accurate and timely bills
2 Convenient PAYG
3In-home display
5Data for scheme optimisation
4 Bringing togethercost and
control

16. Scheme optimisation
Understand
loads
(peaks and
troughs)
Reducing
temperatures
(flow and
return)
Reducing
pumping
costs

17. Making use of load
profiles
Informing design
 Detailed diversity curves
 One size does not fit all
Operations
 BEMS strategies
 Optimisation

18. Making use of temperature data
Smart meters:
A window to heat
network performance
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9 1
0
1
1
1
2

19. Bringing together cost and control
Smart
metering
system Reduces
costs for
residents
Thermostat
&
programmer
Budgeting
controls

20. The bigger picture: The connected future
Smart metering means better
information and user experience

21. Key takeaways
• The spotlight is on heat networks with the latest CMA report leading
the way
• Smart metering, along with customer engagement can help deliver
exceptional customer service
• They help to make heat networks transparent and flexible
• Reducing risks for scheme owners and operators such as; debt risk
and help comply with the latest regulations