A Smart meter device designed to help people better manage their use of energy has been launched by a South Wales company. The technology can be fitted to old-fashioned meters by anyone and provide information on energy and water consumption via the internet. Cwmbran-based C+G Management has developed its Meter Mimic system which features an advanced ferro-magnetic detection technology. It senses the fluctuations in the Earth’s magnetic field caused by the rotation of internal magnets in mechanical meters. The meters will be used to tell people when there is a water or gas leak or when energy consumption in a house or business is too high. Using this technology, Meter-Mimic enables meters to be read without using any physical connection. The system is also able to collect readings from all types of electricity meters, including rotating disc meters and electronic meters via its optical input port. Data is transmitted via Meter-Mimic’s internal GPRS modem to a central server database which then analyses and organises the data. Subscribers to the system can access data via a secure web page. Matthew Middleton, managing director at C+G management, said, “We have been developing the Meter-Mimic system for three years and are delighted to be able to offer this technology at a time when energy and water conservation are becoming critical issues. “We have applied experience and knowledge gained over a long period of time in the conservation industry and this has enabled us to develop the most effective and advanced system in UK today. “Initial response to the system, which is already been trialled on multiple sites in the field, has been phenomenal. We are now confident that Meter-Mimic will become an essential tool in the fields of utilities conservation and facilities management because it solves the fundamental problem of reading any type of existing utility meter.” The system offers high definition, real time data acquisition and is even able to issue warnings via email and SMS messaging when alerts or exceptions are discovered It is fitted with an internal antenna and also an external antenna port for difficult signal areas. Mr Middleton said the company had received 10,000 orders for the product, with customers mainly in the retail sector such as major supermarkets, as well as pub chains. He added, “We sat down and looked at the problem, at how meters work and if there was a technical way we could crack the problem of coming up with a smart meter without having to replace the old fashioned systems.” The Energy Retail Association (ERA) has urged the Government to remain focused on the delivery of smart meters to every household in the UK. The energy industry wants to get the roll-out of electricity and gas smart meters to continue and it says this is in doubt if the Government insists on suppliers giving out free clip-on electricity display devices to every customer on demand, as outlined in the Energy White Paper. ERA chief executive Duncan Sedgwick said, “It is crucial that this consultation achieves the objectives set out in May’s Energy White Paper, namely the roll-out of electricity and gas smart meters across England, Scotland and Wales within the next decade. “This can only be achieved with a mandate from Government and without the distraction of the proposed electricity display devices.”

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