Maximising the benefits of shared data between gas, electric and water utilities

This month's #DirectorsThoughtsThursday comes from Shaun Mason, our Strategic Programmes Director! Shaun is currently engaged on a number of UK and international programmes representing WRc’s growing presence and supporting smart meter programmes around the globe. He is sharing some thoughts relating to the growing importance of maximising the benefits of shared data between gas, electric and water utilities.

The UK, for example, has seen a divergence in the utilities over many years and not always for the benefit of the end customer. In addition to the gas and electricity smart meter national programmes, water companies are now increasing their smart meter connectivity. Over the next 5 years, customers will have multiple communications devices, in-house displays and smartphone apps providing them with usage, billing and alerts. With pressures on not only rising home energy costs but ongoing demand on our precious water resources, WRc advocate further research into opportunities to analyse and maximise meter data from all three utilities specifically for the end consumer.

The meter, communications and remote reading technology and analytics are now well developed and for gas and electricity nearing rollout completion, but do we ultimately give customers the insight and information across all their services to make informed and cost-saving decisions and to truly reduce consumption? WRc is involved in many aspects of smart metering and data management internationally and have been involved where this pan-utility approach is working and, perhaps, could be shared into the UK market.