Reduce Consumption and CO2 with Vital Energi’s Smart Metering Solutions

Vital Energi has an exclusive agreement with a leading European metering manufacturer which means that we can supply and install the latest metering technologies into existing/new housing and apartment developments as well as commercial units. Our Smart Metering Solutions comprise of Ultrasonic Heat Meters and Remote Reading systems which ensures that 100% of meters are read without the need for visual meter inspection. Remote reading is the most effective way of gathering accurate readings for electricity, water, heat and gas consumption.

Vital Energi’s metering systems reduce residents’ consumption rates resulting in lower utility bills and a reduction in CO2 emissions. We also manage systems on behalf of our clients ensuring effective analysis and reporting as well as either facilitating Billing by Clients, within their own Accounts system or performing Billing and Cash Collection on a Clients behalf to ensure accurate and timely payments are made by residents and other occupiers

Data Capture

There are several methods used to capture data;

Radio Communications

Radio communication is a wireless method of receiving meter readings and data at regular intervals from a radio card situated within the Ultrasonic meter. This is available in 2 forms; Walk by/Drive by or Fixed Network.

The following information can be gathered up to 3 times a day:

• Meter reading
• Flow temperature
• Return temperature
• Battery life
• Consumption
• Meter Error

Walk By or Drive By

Data is transmitted from the meters every 8 seconds to a handheld Bluetooth receiver which then sends the data to the Hydro Radio software. The data is stored in a database format which makes it available for billing, analysis, reporting and data export.
The system allows readings to be carried out on a daily basis and is also effective when reading several meters across a number of buildings such as a tower block or a housing estate.

Fixed Network

Other benefits of Radio Communication Systems:

• The reading system does not rely on cabling or repeaters for communication.
• The data download (Hydro Radio) software is commercially available to all customers and can be hosted within a company.
• The radio systems also allow transmission of data for multiple utilities.

M-Bus Metering Solution

This is a traditional system that transmits meter readings via cables to the Hydro-Centre which is situated at a central point. The data is then stored until it is read by a computer directly connected or remotely connected by a modem. The robust system can connect to over 200 devices using a single two-wire cable. This system, however, is not generally preferred due to the potential for system errors caused by poor infrastructure installation (usually carried out by others) as well as being at risk of damage (to cabling) during the life of the system and the inherent difficulty in fault finding between series linked meters.

Pulse Output

This method of communication is mainly used to communicate to pre-payment systems or BMS (Building Management Systems). The pulse output module emits a pulse of electricity to a pulse counter for every kWh of heat used. The total pulses are then added together to give utility consumption.

Vital Energi will guide Clients through the process of choosing the system which will operate most conveniently and economically for their particular scheme, ensuring ease of integration within the scheme and complete satisfaction in operation.

Billing Solutions

Vital Energi offer a range of Billing systems which have been developed through a Partnership arrangement with our European manufacture partner. Incorporating Vital Energi’s own intellectual property, these systems are only available from us.

One of the key benefits that we can offer as the system designer and manufacturer is the opportunity to incorporate a Clients own requirements for enhanced facilities or features into a system.

The Hardware…

Vital “Easy Pay” Pre-payment/Carbon Reduction System

The Vital “Easy Pay” system allows residents to prepay for their heat and power by using smart card technology. Credits are bought from a nominated local shop or other suitable outlet and are uploaded on to the smart card transferring credits to the Domestic Credit Module (DCM). A system for online purchase is also under development for release onto the market very soon.

This technology allows residents to monitor and reduce their consumption and allows for emergency credit to be used when residents are unable to buy credits.

Vital Energi supply and install the following components comprising a complete system:

1. Smartcard

2. Domestic Credit Module

3. Motorised valve (on Vital Hydraulic Interface Unit, not compulsory)

4. Point of Sale (POS) terminal

5. Ultrasonic Heat Meter

Benefits of the system:

• It eliminates risk of bad debt
• Residents can manage their own expenditure
• System Owners can set multiple tariffs for residents
• Tariffs can be changed at the Point of Sale Unit located in the local shop
• Prepayment Units can handle up to 3 different utilities at the same time, using the DCM3U unit, which incorporates an integrated electricity meter.
• The system can be remotely read, eliminating on site meter reading
• Low operation & administration costs because Point of Sale (POS) is located in local outlets.
• Allows for aged debt to be recovered through the system

The Easypay smartcard allows data to be transferred so that reports and analysis of consumption can be produced. Information transferred:

• Credit on Card
• Daily credit time period
• Credit on bank Holidays
• Free credit time
• Adding/Update of current debt
• Amount of granted debt
• Flat rate/Day
• Tariff
• Extra rate per kWh to debt
• Table of holidays

 

The Software…

“VBill”
Vital Energi has written and developed it’s own, totally unique, billing software system known as “VBill”, which links directly into the readings database to make billing and tenant management a lot more efficient.
The VBill software is commercially available from Vital Energi as a stand-alone supply item or, if Clients wish, Vital Energi can manage the system as part of a complete metering and billing service which ensures that thorough analysis is carried out on the data.
Issuing bills and collecting payments is also part of the service which saves our clients time and reduces costs.

“VBill” has the following key features:

• Can be individually branded with Clients own brand or a management company brand
• Can handle multiple tariffs
• Includes Tenant/owner information
• Multiple site configurations
• Consumption analysis
• Directly posts account invoices
• Can provide custom reporting to meet Client requirements

A Bespoke Solution

Vital Energi design, supply, install, operate and maintain tailored metering solutions to meet our clients’ requirements. We believe in a high quality service which is why once the system has been installed we train both residents and the clients on how to use the systems. Face to face training and information leaflets are provided to ensure total user satisfaction.
24 hour operators are on standby to deal with queries or problems.

At Vital Energi we continually invest in and research new technologies to provide service enhancements which meet increasing client demand and aid residents to reduce their consumption rates and therefore reduce their expenditure and their CO2 emissions.