Isle of Man: 50,000 smart meter replacements underway

A plan to upgrade 50,000 meters into smart meters on the Isle of Man has begun, with the island’s 8,000 key meters as the starting point.

Manx Utilities has started the metering upgrades with prepayment customers within the Andreas, Ballaugh, Bride, Jurby, Kirk Michael and Sulby, Peel and western areas in the process of being contacted for the transition to the new system.

The first phase of the rollout involves Manx Utilities’ 8,000 prepayment customers having their ‘key’ electricity meter replaced with a smart meter.

This operates on a Pay As You Go system called ‘SmarterPAYG’ which customers can use, if they wish, in conjunction with a new Smarter Living app.  The app provides prepayment customers with a new, additional method of topping up their credit to cover their electricity usage and with real-time information on their energy consumption.

Have you read:
Smart metering – next steps in Europe
Smart meters for Poland’s Tauron
What is the best smart metering head-end system architecture?

Prepayment customers will be given written notice that their key electricity meter is being upgraded and a Manx Utilities’ SmarterPAYG account created for them.  Customers will also be provided with details on the methods they can use to top up their credit, which includes retaining the ability to top up at a select number of retail outlets.

Rob Callister MHK, chair of Manx Utilities, stated in announcement: “The replacement of the legacy electricity meter network with smart meters is a significant project which will provide the foundation of a cleaner, more efficient energy system while delivering on the objectives laid out in the Government’s Island Plan to create an environment we can be proud of.

“Customers also stand to benefit in a number of ways… Prepayment customers with a smart meter using the new Smarter Living app will be able to top up their credit quickly and easily, as well as gaining greater visibility over their electricity usage, which could help them to save on energy costs.

“Additionally, should there be interruptions to power for any reason, a customer’s smart meter will notify Manx Utilities automatically, allowing the organisation to determine the level of resources required to restore supplies.”

The plan, which has been in the works for four years, was officially slated to begin in 2020, although the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic had caused delays.  

This news comes in as several European countries have been making strides to replace older metering systems. The hopes of these new and improved systems is to bolster efficacy and provide real-time awareness into power usage and potential outages.

This will enable utilities within the energy industry enhanced capability in their responsiveness and aims to allow for a higher level of insight to guide the decision making process.