OUTPUT
TRANSITION TO SMART METERS
The UK Smart Meter Implementation Programme (SMIP) is well into the Transition Phase – the period where the programme moves from Foundation to Implementation.
Smart Metering Data & Communications Company
Perhaps the most significant development in the last six months has been the creation of the Smart Metering Data and Communications Company (DCC). Smart DCC Ltd, part of Capita PLC, has been granted the DCC Licence and they now enter an extensive period of design and testing, working hard with their service providers - CGI, Telefónica and Arqiva - to develop the structures, processes and service offerings for the Smart programme.
CGI IT UK Limited has been appointed the Data Service Provider (DSP) contract to operate and develop the system controlling the movement of messages to and from smart meters. Arqiva Smart Metering Limited will be the Communications Service Provider (CSP) for the North region (north of England and Scotland) providing wide area communications to and from the smart meters. Telefónica UK Limited is the CSP for the Centre (Midlands, East Anglia and Wales) and South (south of England) regions.
Diagrams courtesy of Smart DCC Ltd
FEATURE
Imagery courtesy of SMCDB
Transition to
Smart The Service Management team has been working alongside Service Providers to create process documents detailing and agreeing the principles behind each process.
Security
Industry Paul French
Commercial Stephen Parker
Design & Assurance Matthew Roderick
Operations Dave Broady
Information and Security John Deakin Programme Paul Gilford
Current work
Design and Assurance
As part of its Licence Obligations, DCC has been engaging with SEC Parties, via design forums, to help shape consultation documents for the DSP Interface Specifications and Intimate Communications Hub Interface Specifications (ICHIS). Further Design Forums for the Communications Hub will take place over the next few months as well as sessions on DCC User Gateway Interface Specifications (DUGIS) and Self Service Interface (SSI). These feed into the Technical Business Design Group (TBDG).
A test strategy has been approved which pulls together test strategies for the Service Providers to ensure a consistent approach.
Gary Cottrell, EUA Smart Meter Lead
The Smart DCC security team has a role in ensuring that secure systems are in place and in ensuring the security of the overall solution from consumer premises through to the service users. All systems, data, processes and equipment need to be secure and security threats identified. Endto-end security of smart metering systems is critical to gaining public confidence and widespread adoption.
SMKI
DCC is in the process of procuring a Smart Metering Key Infrastructure (SMKI) service, as per the Smart Meter Communication Licence. The term ‘SMKI’ is used to refer to the specific closed Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) implementation in GB Smart Metering and is based on industry-standard PKI components, methods and good practice.
For more information and to access the latest documents the Smart DCC has a website at www.smartdcc.co.uk
The Smart Meter Central Delivery Body
The Smart Meter Central Delivery Body (SMCDB) is responsible for engaging consumers with smart meters, building consumer confidence in the installation of smart meters; and building consumer willingness, awareness and understanding
Communications Plan
The overall role for communication from the SMCDB will be to help people clearly recognise the benefits of smart meters both before and after installation.
The starting point is positioning the smart meter as a positive innovation. Behavioural models and audience insights identified roles such as creating a sense of social change, reassuring concerns and creating a brand with consumer and third party partner appeal. Potential SMCDB communication activities will include:
1 Position the smart meter
as a positive innovation
2 Create a sense of social change
Service Management
Smart DCC now operates a team of 60 in new offices at Ludgate House, Blackfriars Road, London. The team is headed up by Jonathan Simcock and the senior management team is split into seven close working functions:
Finance Nadim Ahmad
creative campaign ensuring there is synergy between the roll-out programme logo/icon and the Consumer engagement campaign. It is also likely that an endline and call to action, similar to “get set for digital” used in the digital TV rollout, will be developed.
SMCDB has taken over responsibility (from DECC) for the commissioning and publication of nationwide tracker research into public attitudes to, and understanding of, smart meters. In addition, they will undertake a comprehensive programme of qualitative consumer research to inform the campaign narrative.
Meters
Testing
8
SUMMER 2014
3 Provide reassurance 4 Develop smart meter know-how
of how to use smart meters to manage energy consumption.
2014 will be a key year as the programme moves to the first stages of engagement activity. The SMCDB has been building its team and infrastructure following the establishment of the Board, appointment of its Chairperson and recruitment of Chief Executive. Also now in place at their offices in Farringdon, London is an Interim Director of Communications, Communications Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Director of Finance & Operations, Director of Marketing, Director of Communications, Head of Planning and Web Architect. The team will continue to grow through further appointments in the London office, as well as in Scotland and Wales. Partnership working is at the heart of the SMCDB’s approach and over 100 different experts fed into the development of their Consumer Engagement Plan which was published in December 2013 and can be found on their website at www.smartmeter.org.uk/plan
What next for SMCDB
The focus for 2014 will be on building the foundations of the engagement programme. Further research will be carried out to create detailed channel plans together with a brand and campaign identity and creation of a website. A brand name will be developed as the programme will require a simple and self-explanatory name that can be used by all commentators when they refer to the smart meter roll-out.
To support this, a brand logo/icon will be created. The brand will be at the heart of the
The Consumer engagement plan provided some useful learnings and key messages that will help develop future campaigns. To ensure engagement about the smart meter roll-out is targeted correctly, consumer work will be framed within the context of four ‘mega trends’ identified.
1 Declining levels of trust:
particularly with energy companies
2 Squeezed Britain: There has been a £7 fall in average weekly discretionary household income between 2011 and 2013 creating low consumer confidence.
3 Networked Britain: around 55% of Britons own smartphones and 54% of them watch TV while surfing the web on their smart phone. Mobile is predicted to grow by an average of 39% each year from now until 2016.
4 Team me: “If you are going to talk to me, understand what really matters to me and make that your priority.” * SMCDB consumer engagement plan
5 Create a brand and a brand partner programme
Next Steps for EUA
Although the programme has reached some significant milestones, there is still a lot of work to do. The period up to mandated roll-out which is at the time of writing has moved slightly to December 2015 is possibly the most critical part of the programme. Industry will take the current programme output so far and bring it all together.
The closer to conclusion the last bits of detail get, the more important these details become and, in some ways, the harder they are to reach consensus across the industry stakeholders, with each group of stakeholders endeavouring to stamp their needs on the final tweaks.
EUA and its members are influencing these processes at every opportunity and working constructively with other parties to help ensure a worthwhile and positive outcome from the Smart Metering Implementation Programme.
For more information on EUA’s work within the Smart Meter Implementation Programme contact Gary Cottrell gary@eua.org.uk 01926 513764 9