Frequently Asked Questions

Should you be looking to have an Alt HAN device installed with your smart meter at your property, you will need to contact your energy supplier directly, as they will be best placed to advise you on options available for your own specific situation.

Should you wish to arrange a building survey, your energy supplier will be able to provide further information on both this and smart metering solutions for your property. Check your gas or electricity bill for your supplier’s contact details.

Alt HAN Co is unable to comment on specific scenarios relative to any given property. We would therefore recommend that you contact your energy supplier directly, who will be able to advise you in respect of your concerns and the associated feasibility of Alt HAN equipment that may be able to resolve the issues you have.

Alt HAN Co is unable to advise directly on specific device solutions and do not supply devices directly to consumers. We would therefore suggest you speak with your current energy supplier, who can advise you directly on a smart metering solution for your property.

Alt HAN devices are available to all energy suppliers. For the first phase of initial installs we are working in partnership with a number of UK energy suppliers; please contact your energy supplier, who will be able to confirm the solutions that may be available to you.

Alt HAN Co is unable to advise you directly on scenarios relating to an individual property or the energy supplier you are in contact with; we would therefore recommend that you speak directly with your energy supplier to resolve any issues that may exist.

Alt HAN Co is not able to recommend a smart meter installer. Your energy supplier will be able to offer the best advice on who can install a smart metering solution for your specific property and needs.

Alt HAN Co is funded by energy suppliers collectively on a not-for-profit basis.

Initial installations of devices are now taking place and will ramp up from July 2023. Should require more information on when devices will be available, please contact your energy supplier directly.

Alt HAN Co does not supply devices directly to consumers. Where needed, they are provided free of charge as part of your smart meter installation.  We would therefore advise that you speak directly with your energy supplier, who can advise you on both suitability and availability for these devices.

Whilst Alt HAN devices are available to all UK energy suppliers, only those suppliers who have formally agreed to participate in the procurement and installation of devices are able to offer them to their customers. It should also be noted that participating energy suppliers are at different stages in terms of their roll-out plans for procurement and installation of these devices and they will only be available from energy suppliers. To find out more on availability and suitability for your properties smart metering requirements, please contact your energy supplier directly.

In some buildings, space around the meter will be limited.  We are working with a number of energy suppliers and other industry bodies to develop and trial solutions to create space when this is a barrier.

Please contact your own company or the energy supplier you are working with in the first instance; they will either be able to assist you or will have the ability to communicate directly with Alt HAN Co.

The Alt HAN (Alternative Home Area Network) solution is designed for situations where one or more HAN (Home Area Network) devices cannot connect to the 2.4GHz SMETS HAN of the Communications Hub, due to their location relative to the hub. This typically occurs when devices are beyond the Zigbee range of the Communications Hub, a scenario referred to as “out-of-range.”

Alt HAN offers four mixed-media devices that can be configured into three distinct solutions to establish Smart Metering Home Area Networks. These solutions are tailored to overcome physical separation or obstacles between your electric meter, gas meter, and in-home display. Depending on the specific layout of your property, the appropriate configuration is determined to ensure reliable connectivity.

The Alt HAN solutions work by extending Zigbee connectivity between SMETS devices using a combination of broadband powerline communication (PLC) bridges and long-range radio connections. The specific radios and configuration used depend on the solution installed, ensuring seamless communication even in challenging environments where standard Zigbee coverage is insufficient.

Alt HAN devices are available exclusively through energy suppliers.

Alt HAN devices must not be installed in multi-way extension sockets or connected to devices designed to filter Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) or suppress mains surges. Doing so may interfere with their performance and connectivity, potentially disrupting the communication between HAN devices and the Communications Hub. For optimal operation, Alt HAN devices should be plugged directly into a standard mains socket without any intermediary filters or surge suppressors.

Alt HAN range-extending devices are engineered to operate efficiently across a wide variety of property types, regardless of location. They are suitable for flats/apartments as well as small and large single premises, ensuring robust connectivity in diverse installation environments.

Yes, Alt HAN devices are fully compatible with both SMETS2 meters and U16 gas meters, ensuring seamless integration and reliable communication across these devices.

AHC offers four mixed media devices that can be combined and configured into three distinct solutions to help establish Smart Metering Home Area Networks. These solutions address the challenge of physical separation and obstacles between your electric meter, gas meter, and in-home display. The specific solution suitable for you depends on the specifics of your property.

There are four Alt HAN devices, called Bridges:

• Bridge 1 is installed alongside the electric meter and draws its power directly from the electric meter itself.
• Bridge 2 is a plug-in device powered by connecting to any standard electrical socket within the premises.
• Bridge 3 is another plug-in device that also uses a standard socket for power.
• Bridge 4 is battery-powered and is mounted on the gas meter using a bracket.

Each Bridge is designed for specific installation scenarios to extend connectivity between smart metering devices.

Alt HAN is not designed to work with Dual Band technology. Alt HAN solutions are specifically built for use with 2.4GHz Comms Hubs. Alt HAN extends the 2.4GHz Zigbee HAN using Power Line Communications (PLC).

Dual Band and Alt HAN serve different use cases. However, if a customer has Dual Band technology installed and is experiencing communication issues, we recommend that they contact their energy supplier to discuss possible solutions.