Paul Cooper MD Alt HAN Co
Alt HAN Newsletter Autumn 2024
A message from Paul Cooper
Welcome to the Autumn edition of the Alt HAN newsletter.
Our mission at Alt HAN is to deliver products and services that extend the range of the Home Area Network and integrate seamlessly into the smart meter rollout plans of energy suppliers.
The start of Autumn marks two key milestones in the Alt HAN journey. Our coordination service to make buildings “smart ready” by creating necessary space in meter rooms starts volume operations. We estimate that this will enable an extra 100,000 energy customers to access the benefits of smart metering. This is a great example of how we are helping energy suppliers deliver better outcomes for consumer through collective, co-ordinated action.
The second milestone is the launch of the first of two new designs for our Bridge 2 and 3 devices. The update addresses a manufacturing quality issue in the “plug through” mechanism in the initial mass production run. While the pause in installs caused by this issue has been frustrating, we have worked closely with our technology partner Landis+Gyr – and our energy supplier members – to deliver a solution. The result is that energy suppliers are now back installing and delivering the benefits of our solution to more energy consumers.
Ismey Kelly, Head of Smart Operations, OVO Energy and Alt HAN Board member:
The Alt HAN solution is key to enabling more customers to access the benefits of smart metering. At OVO Energy we already have over 1,000 customers benefiting from Alt HAN, and it is great to be back installing. We are also proud to be part of the collective effort managed effectively and transparently by the Alt HAN team to get this issue sorted quickly for consumers.”
Things to note this quarter
Crowded Meter Rooms – enduring service
This quarter sees our new “Crowded Meter Room” service go live. The service finds, surveys and diagnoses whether or not meter rooms in block of flats are “smart ready” – and if work is needed to create the necessary space. We then scope and deliver works, on behalf of all energy suppliers. Without joint action there is a risk that around 100,000 customers are left behind in the switch to smart metering.
The service was piloted last year, and at the end of 2023 our energy supplier members gave us the green light to stand up the full service. We have already resolved twelve meter rooms and validated a further 219 as not requiring works, working with our delivery partners SMS and IMServ. We estimate that there could be a further 5,000 buildings across GB that could benefit from our service as part of completing the rollout of smart meters.
Position Today
Figures as of 1 November 2024
1
Smart installs using Alt HAN devices
1
Suppliers with Alt HAN customers
1
Energy suppliers signed up to Alt HAN
1%
of energy consumers
1
Meter rooms validated as “smart ready”
Towards full market coverage
The Alt HAN solutions are universal. They are available to all energy suppliers on the same terms. A key feature, designed to ensure that no customer is left behind. We pride ourselves on being proactive and supportive in helping all energy suppliers understand how our services work, and how they access them.
In the year to date we have made big strides in getting more smaller suppliers up-to-speed and involved. We appreciate the challenge for Suppliers who might only have small numbers of customers needing Alt HAN and we do what we can to make our services accessible. It is great to see smaller suppliers get actively involved, including by signing up to our contract and working with us to get ready to place orders. We are now very close to full market coverage.
Introducing…
Bill Lester, Crowded Meter Room Design Manager
One aspect I particularly enjoy is knowing that every time we resolve a room, we increase the number of smart-ready customers. This means that so many more people can enjoy the benefits having a fully functional smart meter, whether that means they can finally have their EV charger installed, that solar is now a feasible option for them, that remote prepay top-ups are viable, or just that they can understand and manage their home energy use better.
Before joining Alt HAN, I worked in quality assurance of energy supplier’s field engineers. My background in compliance has helped me shape the Crowded Meter Room design process to ensure the best possible outcome for all customers.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, all things tech related, and anything DIY. I am a major advocate of using AI tools, not only to support with everyday tasks, but interestingly to explore my other hobbies in greater detail and in ways I wouldn’t have previously thought to.
Running strong
At Alt HAN we take pride in putting our people and our culture first. Our people come from a diverse range of backgrounds and our shared values of People, Passion and Pride align to make Alt HAN a great place to work. As part of this, we celebrate what our people achieve in their lives outside Alt HAN.
This month, Alt HAN Contract Manager Matt Curtis takes on a 210km (!) ultramarathon across the Namib desert to raise awareness and support survivors of modern slavery. An amazing challenge, and a very worthy cause. Well done, Matt. You can contribute to Matt’s fundraising here: justgiving.com/page/mattandgregorrunnamibia
100 and counting for the Alt HAN Forum
Alt HAN is unique in the energy sector as a not-for-profit organisation with all decisions affecting how we operate taken democratically by our members. The monthly Alt HAN Forum is the engine room for this decision making, and October marked its 100th meeting.
Colin Sausman, Alt HAN Forum Chair since 2017:
The Alt HAN delivery model was an innovation when it was first established in 2016. It is now a proven way for energy suppliers to work together to find solutions to shared challenges – focused on areas that have clear, tangible benefits for energy consumers. I’m proud to have been part of the journey, alongside our energy supplier members and the Alt HAN team.”
