Using smart metering data to deliver customer benefits Julian Anderton – Head of Operations – Energy Retail Association Jason Brogden – Director Engage Consulting ERA SRSM Programme Manager European Metering/Billing 6th October 2011 What we will cover today • Where does consumption data go and why? • How does data deliver customer benefits? • Regulated Duties v Legitimate uses • What choice for customers? • What mechanisms are? • How GB is moving the debate on Where does consumption data go? DCC Gas Supplier 01234 01234 98765 98765 Electricity Supplier 9876501234 And the why….. Gas Supplier Electricity Supplier BILLING •According to tariff •Weekly •Monthly •Quarterly •Annually TAILORED ADVICE •Energy efficiency •Tariff •Demand reduction •Debt management DEMAND FORECASTING •Accurate forward picture •Reduce imbalanced positions •Efficient forecasting based on real data ENGAGEMENT •Tariff/product innovation •Energy efficiency •Reduce energy costs •Vulnerable customers SETTLEMENT •Pay for energy used •Industry transaction charges •Efficient settlement based on real data BACK OFFICE •Theft detection •Operational efficiencies •Lower the cost to serve DEMAND RESPONSE •Develop ToU •Peak load shift •Encourage behavioural change Delivering accurate bills Gas Supplier Electricity Supplier BILLING •Obviously, meter readings are an essential element of billing •A major benefit for smart meters is improving billing accuracy from more frequent readings •Meter readings should be aligned to tariffs – the take up of Time of Use tariffs is expected to be significant Providing meaningful, tailored advice Gas Supplier Electricity Supplier TAILORED ADVICE •Suppliers need to understand consumer’s consumption to provide meaningful advice •Suppliers expect to be able to use all relevant information available to provide the most appropriate, meaningful and tailored advice •In order to deliver the benefits to consumers, advice is key, particularly on energy efficiency measures •Turning advice into positive customer actions is essential in delivering environmental benefits Engaging with customers delivers benefits Gas Supplier Electricity Supplier ENGAGEMENT •Suppliers need data to help identify what products are best for individual customers, saving them money •Data will facilitate the targeting of appropriate advice and products to vulnerable customers •Smart meters + IHD will not change behaviour alone – suppliers need to engage with customers to deliver benefits and savings Responding to the demand for energy Gas Supplier Electricity Supplier DEMAND RESPONSE •Developing appropriate customer segment specific Time of Use Tariffs •Encourage demand response for critical peaks shifting usage from peak times to lessen the load on national generation plants and ensuring security of supply •Electrification of heating and transport leading towards low carbon economy •The ability to pass customer savings onto individual households to encourage right behaviours Forecasting demand Gas Supplier Electricity Supplier DEMAND FORECASTING •Current processes are based on very good guess work – years of practice •Accurate data will improve the ability to forecast more efficiently •More efficient forecasting will reduce imbalance – reduce the need to purchase energy within day - more often than not at expensive rates •Utilising smart meter data to deliver reduced costs to customers must be a good thing Paying the industry bills Gas Supplier Electricity Supplier SETTLEMENT •Settlement is currently based on large groups of sites based on type, size and location •Electricity Settlement uses estimated annual consumption, which is subsequently reconciled with actual data later – reform is expected •Gas settlement does not allow for variation within the year –AQ stays the same even if your usage pattern changes – reform is expected •More frequent meter readings improves settlement accuracy and should improve risk margins, reducing costs for customers. Back office operations Gas Supplier Electricity Supplier BACK OFFICE PROCESSES •Costs of theft are currently spread across all consumers as ‘system losses’ •Debt prevention and debt management •Meter management – is the meter operating correctly? •Improving efficiency in all back office processes will reduce the cost to serve •Lower cost to serve = lower cost of energy = lower prices for customers Not forgetting where else data goes Gas Supplier Electricity Supplier Gas Transporter •Network planning Network Operator •Network planning •Network charging •MPAS? Agents •MAP •MOP •DC/DA •etc Agents •MAP •MAM •DC •etc Xoserve •Balancing/settlement •Charging SPAA •Supply point registration? Elexon •Wholesale charging •Balancing/Settlement Using data to deliver benefits Engage with consumers for energy efficiency Developing new products and services Better theft management Improved understanding of energy consumption •Better quality advice •Via IHD’s, bills etc •Comparisons •Microgeneration •Time of Use tariffs •Energy Services/Audits •Tailored to consumers needs •Identify unusual consumption •Investigate fairly •Reduce c£500m in costs •Better forecasting •Better debt management •Operational improvements IA Benefits £4.6Bn – EE £36m - Microgen £842m ToU £237m £1.075Bn - Debt Mngmt Data Needed? Suppliers will use smart meter consumption information to deliver key benefits, provide customer choice and encourage customer engagement But that’s just the GB IA benefits Shouldn’t we be aiming higher? Customer choice for uses of data • It’s hugely important – customers should have some choice in what their data is used for • Without choice, you risk raising suspicion • But, there’s some data that you just can’t do without to deliver Regulated Duties • There is other data that have legitimate use to deliver customer benefits and this is expected to be subject to customer choice Regulated duties and Legitimate uses • The ERA focus is on “Legitimate Uses” • Same principles as definitions within the Data Protection Act 1998 • Data clearly protected for customers • Limited to uses where real benefits can be delivered to consumers:– • Managing the end-to-end supply chain • Managing the volatile risks between retail and wholesale markets • Delivering efficiencies that drive down costs All of this has to be good for consumers, doesn’t it? • Regulated duties defined by DECC include the need to: • Identify and protect vulnerable customers • Identify and prevent theft of energy • Provide energy efficiency advice – but not as far down as tailored individual advice But not issues such as demand forecasting, purchasing and settlement which we believe are essential to deliver regulated duties Choice mechanisms • How do we ensure that the Impact Assessment is delivered whilst giving customer choice • ERA members - unanimous support for Opt-out option for consumers • Opportunity to collect HH interval data to deliver customer benefits, but customer Opt-out • Anonymise, sample, aggregate data where possible • No choice if data required to fulfil Regulated Duties • Be transparent – tell customers right up front • We do not believe Opt-in would deliver the take up required to deliver the GB Cost Benefit Case How ERA is moving the data use debate forward • ERA Smart Metering Privacy Charter in development • A set of commitments from suppliers – what their customers can expect • Helps to deliver transparency • So that that consumers are fully aware of their rights and choices they have – before their smart meters are installed • But not the detail of when/how/why – suppliers have to do this individually anyway (UK DPA) • Publish the Privacy Charter mid-October • Will be inviting all suppliers to adopt the principles of the Charter How GB is moving the data use debate forward • Deliver the ERA Smart Metering Privacy Charter in mid-October • DECC Call for Evidence – Data Access and Use • Responses being prepared for 13th October • Ongoing 1-2-1 discussions between Industry, Consumer Groups and Government • Providing the detail and evidence • Explaining how industry operates to deliver customer benefits • Expect further consultation if any further regulation to be proposed by Government Any questions? Thank You Contact Details for further queries: Jason.Brogden@Engage-Consulting.Co.UK +44 7980 297094 julian.anderton@energy-retail.org.uk +44 7786 082182