IMServ wins pilot contract with Alt HAN Co

IMServ has won a six-month Crowded Meter Room Pilot contract with Alt HAN Co, a not-for-profit collective of energy suppliers.

IMServ’s scope of work in this pilot addresses how to create enough space in buildings that would otherwise prevent the installation of smart meters and Alt HAN equipment. IMServ’s expertise in meter communications will use the latest technologies to ensure all meters and the In-Home Display will be able to connect to the Smart Metering network. Using their engineering capabilities, they will survey and design how they will move the existing equipment in the crowded meter rooms to make space for the Alt HAN equipment to be fitted.

The sector-wide project is to develop and test ideas for making more buildings smart-ready, which could affect around 10,000 apartment buildings across GB. IMServ will conduct a feasibility study to provide valuable cost and operational information on whether the solution is viable at a larger scale.

IMServ’s expertise, therefore, makes them an ideal partner with Alt HAN Co to carry out this pilot to help ensure all customers can benefit from smart metering.

Crowded meter rooms are a more common problem for apartment blocks, where meters are often installed alongside each other in a meter room or cupboard. Currently, many UK homeowners’ electricity meters are co-located in rooms with insufficient space to deploy smart metering functions.

Steve Brown, CEO of IMServ, says, “We are pleased to be awarded this pilot project which will embark our working relationship with Alt HAN. It is a significant win for IMServ and further cements our position as a leading energy metering expert in the sector.”

Chris Perry, Operations Director at Alt HAN, says, “Alt HAN is all about not leaving customers behind in the transition to smart energy. Space in meter rooms is a potential blocker, and it is right that we try to find effective market-wide solutions. Alt HAN is uniquely placed to support because of our ability to do things collectively on behalf of all energy suppliers. The meter room pilot and these new commercial partnerships show the commitment from all stakeholders to innovate and test new things operationally.”

The Crowded Meter Room Pilot is a nationwide project that will run for six months.