Utility firms to offer pre-pay text service

LogicaCMG and T-Mobile launch energy service

IT services firm LogicaCMG and mobile operator T-Mobile are developing an energy metering system to allow pre-pay customers to top up their electricity or gas without using a meter card or key.

The Instant Energy system will operate using a keypad that links to a utility firm’s servers via a GSM telecoms network.

The machine-to-machine network will communicate back information using text messaging, allowing utility firms to read, configure and control meters without sending engineers out to the site.

‘Utility firms will be able to remotely update energy tariffs on prepaid meters,’ said Rick Hanks, principal consultant of energy and utilities at LogicaCMG.

‘Energy firms are losing millions each year as engineers cannot get into homes to update the cost of energy on tariff systems.’

LogicaCMG carried out a six-week trial of the system in June and July this year at 97 locations in the UK. Some 900 SMS messages were sent during the pilot, with 98 per cent of messages delivered within 120 seconds. More than 97.5 per cent of messages were successful first time.

The company is in discussions with the top six UK utility firms, but has not yet signed a commercial contract to install the meters.