Smart metering equipment technical specifications: second version
Seeking views on proposals to ensure equipment is fully interoperable.
The first version of the smart metering equipment technical specifications (SMETS) was designed to deliver functional interoperability in smart metering equipment to be installed during the foundation stage.
The government’s aim for the second version of SMETS and the communications hub technical specification is that they will describe smart metering equipment that will be fully interoperable.
The most significant proposals in this consultation relate to the home area networking solution, the communications hub requirements and responsibilities, and equipment assurance. The consultation also discusses the development and regulatory timetable (including any notification to the European Commission) that the government plans to follow.
Part 1 of the government response, published on 24 January 2013, addresses the consultation questions which had to be resolved in order to notify the first iteration of SMETS 2 (the gas, electricity and in home display technical specifications) to the European Commission. These include decisions on the choice of communication standards to support smart metering within the home; responsibility for procurement of the communications hub; and additional functionality to be included in SMETS 2 (maximum demand registers, variant electricity meters and randomisation offset capabilities). In addition, Part 1 of the response confirms the Government’s intention to introduce an operational licence condition to require energy suppliers to make smart meter data available to domestic consumers and micro-businesses.
Responses to the SMETS 2 consultation will be published along with part 2 of the government response in Spring 2013.
The previously published Impact Assessments ‘Smart meter rollout for the domestic sector (GB)’ and ‘Smart meter rollout for the small and medium non-domestic sector (GB)’ have been combined into a single document and updated to reflect the latest available evidence.
The draft first iteration of SMETS 2, which was notified to the European Commission as per the requirements of the Technical Standards and Regulations Directive, builds on the physical, functional, interface and data requirements included in SMETS 1.