PREPAYMENT METERING IN THE UK
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Transcript of PREPAYMENT METERING IN THE UK
EAMFEAMF
PREPAYMENT METERING IN THE UK
Alan Dick
Electricity Association
OBJECT OF PRESENTATION
• Why?
• What?
• How?
• Where?
• When?
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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
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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
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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
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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
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SUPPORTING SYSTEMS
• Dispensers
• Point of sale
• Operating platforms
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Third Party Vendor Networks
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HOW?(Application)
• Can’t pay– Debt
• Won’t pay– Fraud
– Theft
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UTIILITY VIEW
• Reduced bad debt
• Enabled recovery
• Allowed connection of customers otherwise problematical
• Provided method of dealing with theft
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SUCCESS!
CUSTOMER VIEW
• Regulator’s study
• ‘Fuel Poverty’ research
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RECENT IMPACTS
• Competition in supply
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THE FUTURE?
• The EURO
• AMR and variants
• Web-connected technology
• Telephone ‘hub’
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KEYPAD
• ‘token’ is a number
• can be bought from variety of outlets
• entered on keypad on meter
• secure (encrypted data)
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