Australia’s utilities sector is undergoing wholesale change, as the ongoing shift to renewable energy sources accelerates.
By 2030, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) predicts solar and wind capacity in the national grid will triple, rooftop solar capacity will double, and storage capacity will increase six-fold. This significant expansion is occurring amidst a growing population, urban densification and continued climate change – all while customers face increasing cost-of-living and have higher expectations of their services and providers.
Smarter data
Smart meters are digital devices that measure and record electricity usage in real-time. They enable the automatic distribution of data to retailers or distributors, where older meters previously required manual readings – and are becoming a crucial part of the energy transition taking place around the world.
Australians are set to install more than ten million energy consumer devices in their homes by 2030, namely solar and battery energy systems, more electric hot water units, EV chargers, pool pumps and more – with smart meters at the heart of unlocking accessibility. Currently, the UK is the global leader in offshore wind energy. It has more capacity installed than any other country and powering more than 7.5 million homes.
With a plan to increase this four-fold by 2030, the nation is well on the way to decarbonising its power system by 2035, and like Australia, smart meters are playing a key role in its energy transformation. And it’s not just smart electricity meters – the technology is also driving efficiencies across other utilities, such as water.
Delivering change
United Utilities, which serves more than seven million customers in north-west England, plans to install more than one million smart water meters by 2030, to increase household coverage from 52 per cent to 70 per cent. This smart metering program is a key component of its Water Resources Management Plan 2024 (WRMP24), which outlines strategies to ensure a sustainable water supply for future generations.
The plan includes a 50 per cent reduction in leakage (from a 2017–18 baseline) and reductions in water use to 110L per person per day by 2050.
To fulfill this portfolio of work, United Utilities selected Arqiva under a prime contract structure (a model in which it assumes full responsibility for the management of the project).
In its research, United Utilities found this structure would provide it with the best value-for-money, when compared to a utility-led deployment.
It worked together with the Water Services Regulation Authority, or Ofwat, the body responsible for economic regulation of the privatised water and sewerage industry in England and Wales.
Through the increased deployment of smart meters, United Utilities projects it will be able to improve water resource management, reduce consumption, and minimise leakage across its network.
This will help it support environmental sustainability and provide enhanced service delivery for its customers.
Future outlook
Like in the UK, Australian digital water meters re having a significant impact – and have already helped to save millions of litres of water, significantly reduce costs for customers and streamline operations.
Targets of 82 per cent renewable electricity by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050 loom – and there may be valuable insights to be taken from how other nations are using smart meters to help drive their electrification and decarbonisation journeys.
For more information, visit intellihub.com.au
