Smart meter developers Sentec and OnStream deploy UK devices

21 April 2010

UK smart meter developer Sentec has finalised a licensing agreement with investor owned utility business OnStream to bring Sentec’s proprietary Mobius technology to the UK smart electricity meter market.

OnStream, a National Grid company, which offers meter asset management and installation services to UK energy suppliers, is using Sentec’s Mobius current sensor to produce a customised smart electricity meter to fit the burgeoning UK market.

Clare Naunton, smart development manager at OnStream, said, ‘Smart metering is on the brink of rapid expansion in the UK and it’s critical to create a product that is perfectly suited to the region. The days of the one-size-fits-all meters are over and the opportunities in the future are based on increasing modularisation of meter design and lower costs of manufacturing as meters become pure electronic products that are found in every home.’

Mark England, managing director of Sentec, said a shift in the smart meter market has resulted in all metering businesses, suppliers and customers redefining the way they work together, with more meter asset managers, such as OnStream, turning to bespoke meters as an affordable solution for their different marketplaces.

OnStream selected Sentec to assist it create a meter featuring sophisticated communications interface and metrology based on the Mobius current sensor, which acts as the basis for more than five million meters in the US.

England said, ‘This partnership comes at a vital time for the UK: with the national smart meter roll-out beginning in 2012, there is a pressing need for proven solutions that are specifically tailored to the needs of the UK market. Indeed, in order to meet the 2020 deadline for the completion of the roll-out, we need to start installing and using meters before 2012, so that the UK can put in place the new data and billing systems that will be needed to work alongside smart meters. OnStream is fully committed to driving forward the UK smart metering markets and is the perfect partner to support Sentec in bringing our expertise into UK homes.’

Sentec and OnStream said they will bring the Mobius-based meters to the market in a trial due to start in summer 2010.

Copyright © 2010 NewNet

Tags: smart grid, smart meter

This story was published on Wednesday, April 21st, 2010 at 12:42 pm and is filed under Europe, companies, energy efficiency. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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