EAMFEAMF

PREPAYMENT METERING IN THE UK

Alan Dick

Electricity Association

OBJECT OF PRESENTATION

• Why?

• What?

• How?

• Where?

• When?

EAMFEAMF

WHY? (Some history)

• Coin operated meters– Long history

• Problems early 80s– Theft from meters and collectors– Unreliability

• Late 80s Anti-crime initiative– commitment to replace 10,000

p.a. EAMFEAMF

WHAT? 1(What is a [token] prepayment

meter?)• ‘Token’ used instead of coins

• Bought from vending outlets

• Puts ‘credit’ on meter

• Supply disconnected when credit runs out

• Emergency credit

• Debt collectionEAMFEAMF

WHAT? 2(Token Technologies)

• Magnetic card

• Key

• Smart card

EAMFEAMF

MAGNETIC CARD

• ‘token’ is a magnetic card

• bought in multiples of £1

• insert into any meter - wiped/cancelled

• one trip only, then throw away

• susceptible to fraud

EAMFEAMF

EAMFEAMF

KEY

• ‘token’ is a ‘key’ (encapsulated eeprom)

• handshakes with only one meter - secure

• transfers some or all credit

• reads meter

• configures meter

• keep not throw away

EAMFEAMF

KBC Meter ReadingsCurrent Meter settings

CreditDebt Tariff detailsSpecial Actions to change meter settings EAMFEAMF

SMART CARD• token’ is a (standardised) smart card

• handshakes with only one meter - very secure

• transfers some or all credit

• reads meter/configures meter

• keep not throw away

• large memory allows options for payment mode

EAMFEAMF

SUPPORTING SYSTEMS

• Dispensers

• Point of sale

• Operating platforms

EAMFEAMF

Third Party Vendor Networks

EAMFEAMF

HOW?(Application)

• Can’t pay– Debt

• Won’t pay– Fraud

– Theft

EAMFEAMF

UTIILITY VIEW

• Reduced bad debt

• Enabled recovery

• Allowed connection of customers otherwise problematical

• Provided method of dealing with theft

EAMFEAMF

SUCCESS!

CUSTOMER VIEW

• Regulator’s study

• ‘Fuel Poverty’ research

EAMFEAMF

RECENT IMPACTS

• Competition in supply

EAMFEAMF

THE FUTURE?

• The EURO

• AMR and variants

• Web-connected technology

• Telephone ‘hub’

EAMFEAMF

KEYPAD

• ‘token’ is a number

• can be bought from variety of outlets

• entered on keypad on meter

• secure (encrypted data)

EAMFEAMF