The Smart Metering Programme is progressing in line with the commitment in the Government's Energy Policy Framework and the Programme for Government. The Smart Metering Programme is a central component of the strategy to radically enhance management of energy demand deliver smart networks and to deliver greater energy efficiency through the use of cutting-edge technology. Smart Metering is also increasingly being seen at European Union level as a critical dimension of energy demand management in the interests of consumers and businesses.
Ireland's smart meter project covers both electricity and gas. The pilot phase of the programme, which encompasses two strands, technology and customer behaviour, is now underway. Technology trials are testing a number of advanced metering systems and their associated IT and communications infrastructure. Customer behaviour trials are determining the potential of smart meters to achieve measurable change in consumer behaviour. The trials are essential to ensure that the optimum and most cost effective technology and systems are identified for the implementation phase.
The electricity element of the pilot phase is expected to be completed at the end of December 2010. It is important to have a trial that captures seasonal changes in usage for peak demand management purposes. The outcome will be a fully informed decision on the most suitable model of smart meter/IT system, tariffing structure, communications system and demand stimuli. The model must have the proven capability to deliver the anticipated benefits of smart metering, taking account of the specifics of the Irish energy system.
The electricity technology trial will examine metering functionality and supporting information and communications systems. Installation of up to 8,000 meters has commenced for technology testing in Limerick/Ennis, Cork City/Bandon and South Dublin/Wicklow.
Over 6,000 participants for the electricity customer behaviour trial have been selected to ensure that the sample is representative of Ireland's electricity consumers both in terms of usage profiles and geographical spread. Installation of 6,363 meters for this trial has been completed and the data benchmarking period is in progress. This trial will go live on 1 January 2010.
The specifications of these metering systems will allow the testing of a range of functionality to deliver enhanced demand management. These include interval metering reading, time of use tariffing and the use of In Home Display devices. They will also provide reliable quality data on actual energy use which will lead to significantly better services to consumers in areas such as, improved fault monitoring and outage recording, power quality monitoring, reduced theft and losses and improved network planning.
The gas element of the pilot phase is also moving ahead. Installation of over 1,900 meters for the Customer Behaviour Trial is on schedule for completion by end November. A further 750 meters will be installed to facilitate the Gas Technology Trials. The gas customer behaviour and technology gas trials will go live in June 2010 and will continue until May 2011.
The smart metering pilot is proceeding in parallel with the current microgeneration initiative and there are important links between the two. The data gathered from the interval meters being used in the microgeneration scheme will provide vital information on the import and export of electricity, which will feed into the analysis of electricity use being carried out in the electricity element of the smart metering pilot. In turn, the findings of the smart metering pilot will also inform the development of a long term microgeneration strategy.
The present estimated cost of the pilot project is €34.9m. This comprises €29.9m for the electricity element and €5m for the gas element. The cost of a national roll out will be determined on foot of the results of the pilot programme and decisions taken on the optimum type of cost effective smart metering system that will deliver the level of functionality required in an Irish market.
A key component of the pilot phase is the associated cost benefit analysis, which will critically inform future decisions. An interim analysis will be completed next year with the final analysis, to include the results of the gas trials, to be completed by mid 2011.
