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Lack of meter training will cost consumers £7m, says Itron
Newly published research from Itron concludes that incorrectly fi tted meters for renewable heat projects could lead to £7m of wasted funds by
2020.
The survey of 100 installers showed 55 percent had received no training in this area while 29 percent have had to address problems
associated with incorrectly fi tted meters, including dirt getting into systems.
The £7m fi gure cited in the report is 29 percent of the £24m which will be spent on installing mandatory meters on the 165,000 installations
DECC expects to be installed under the commercial RHI within the next six years.
Bernard McWeeney, Itron’s water and heat manager, says that the industry must take heed of the skills gap as demand for heat meters
continues to rise over the next few years. With the reputation of the industry at stake, Itron has taken a lead in developing educational materials
for installers including its new e-learning guide.
“We had some feedback from the market that this was happening but with the estimated number of installs that will need metering, we felt
this was a useful exercise for a fl edgling industry,” said McWeeney. “The idea was that if any gaps were found, we could try and close them.
“We are taking steps to improve the situation such as our e-learning guide. We are also talking to people about the benefi ts of using ultrasonic
meters which have fewer problems than mechanical ones.”
He added: “We must shine a light on these issues. The problem DECC and OFGEM often has is that they are not always talking directly to
end users. They make efforts but manufacturers will always be a bit closer. We talk to them and will make our feedback available so we can act
upon it as an industry.”
Itron’s heat meter installation guide can be downloaded at www.itronheat.co.uk
All change at the MPC
New identity: Chief executive Dave
Sowden annouced the MPC’s name
change at its Christmas reception on
December 16 2013
The Micropower Council’s (MPC) executive committee
has announced its decision to become the Sustainable
Energy Association (SEA) as it seeks to increase its
remit.
In addition to renewable energy generation, the SEA will now focus on representing the
energy effi ciency and demand reduction industry sectors.
According to chief executive Dave Sowden, the name change refl ects a shift in the
association’s activities towards the converging supply and demand-driven elements of the UK’s
efforts to decarbonise.
“This is a bright new chapter for campaigning for the team at the Sustainable Energy
Association, following 10 years of successful activity under our previous name The Micropower
Council,” he said.
“In this age of pressed government budgets, we believe that now more than ever there is a
role for a membership organisation to be developing the economic arguments for supporting cost-
effective demand side solutions, when Government too often is focussed on large-scale supply side
solutions-such as unconventional gas.
“The Sustainable Energy Association will seek to develop a consensus viewpoint that
innovative thinking which links up built environment technologies and the wider energy system
will provide policy solutions for Government departments, helping to secure a cost-effective,
renewable, effi cient and secure energy future for UK consumers.”
He added: “Our policy team are already working hard on the issues that matter to members
including; forthcoming changes to the Energy Company Obligation, improvements to the Green
Deal, the implementation of the Renewable Heat Incentive, changes to the Building Regulations,
Electricity Market Reform, future Smart Grids policy, and others.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the industry to our offi cial launch event in the House of
Commons on March 24 where we will outline the vision and policy program to the wider market.”
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