Metering and billing: Transitioning to a low-carbon future

On 20 April 2021, the UK Government set in law a target to reduce carbon emissions by 78 percent by 2035 (compared to 1990 levels), in line with the recommendation from the Independent Climate Change Committee. If the UK meets the target, it will be three-quarters of the way to reaching its
2050 net zero goal.

The reduction target follows on from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's announcement last November of a Ten-Point Plan for a green industrial revolution. This included a proposal to decarbonise the heating of new homes and business premises with its target for 600,000 heat pumps to be installed annually by 2028.
It also included a commitment to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine cars and vans by 2030.

The 2035 target, combined with the initiative to decarbonise heating and transport, will hasten the move to an exciting electric future where the demand for accurate electricity metering will increase significantly in order to
allocate costs to customers for billing. 

To help hasten the move to EVs, the Ten-Point Plan outlines a £1.3bn investment in infrastructure to accelerate the rollout of charge points on streets, motorways and in homes. Its implementation will be a major challenge: the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders estimate that Britain will
need 2.8m roadside charge points in addition to those in homes and offices. 

Charging stations consume significant amounts of electrical power when EV drivers refuel their vehicles. The amount of power consumed needs to be metered to ensure fair and accurate cost allocation for the energy consumed in charging each vehicle.

Read the full article in DPA's October issue