WilSon Energy has been appointed to install metering on the water and electricity supplies at Consort House, a prestigious new residential development in Doncaster. In addition to creating a private electricity network, WilSon Energy’s billing and bureau team will carry out remote data collection and utility billing.

A leading UK developer is spearheading the project to convert the former office building in Doncaster’s Civic Quarter into 70 stylish single-bedroom apartments built over their own private parking level. Built to the highest standards, the five-storey development supports Doncaster’s ambitious £300 million urban regeneration plans to attract new investment and improve residents’ quality of life.

The main developer awarded WilSon Energy the contract by to create a private electricity network and supply, install and commission smart metering for each of the properties. The team has also installed commercial electricity metering to monitor the consumption of the mobile telephone masts, adjacent estate agents’ office and new commercial retail unit.

Having surveyed the site and its electrical infrastructure, WilSon Energy identified scope for further electrical requirements. These included alterations to the car park lighting to accommodate a new electrical in-take room and the strip out and making all redundant electrical and data cables and equipment safe.

The team also supplied and installed the electrical containment from the new incoming position, provided a new 400amp switch fuse isolator, installed a new select panel and connected all riser supplies. Finally, a new landlord’s distribution board was installed and cables connected and the team supplied and installed new supplies to pick up various existing and reused distribution equipment.

Andy Wilkinson, CEO at Wilson Energy, said: “It’s great to win another contact within the residential space, and we’re pleased that we’ll be working together with the management and maintenance teams on an ongoing basis.”

“With each property having its own smart metering system, our billing and bureau team will be able to retrieve and analyse accurate data relating to water and electricity usage that will better inform residents of their utility spend and help to manage their expectations.”

WilSon Energy has also been contracted by the scheme’s property management representatives to provide billing and bureau services to residents, once the properties are occupied.

For more information about how WilSon Energy can support electricity and water supply and smart metering in residential developments, visit https://wilsonenergy.co.uk/about-wilson-energy-2/

WilSon Energy has recently completed another project for a large residential and commercial development at The Triangle in London. The supply and commissioning of heating and cooling interface units, plus smart metering systems, is the latest project to add to WilSon’s already comprehensive portfolio of specialist heating and metering solutions across Related Argent’s Kings Cross estate.

The Triangle is a new mixed-use development which houses 218 apartments and a mix of retail, social and cultural functions as well as a community ecology garden. It forms part of the works immediately surrounding London’s King’s Cross station. The residential units include 140 open market and 78 social rented apartments.

Working for the on-site mechanical and electrical contractor, WilSon Energy, who was specified by the main client, has supplied cutting-edge heating and domestic hot water heat interface units (HIUs) to the 218 apartments, as well as 182 cooling interface units (CIUs) to work with the fan coil units for the open market properties.

Working on the phased project, the units were shipped to Dutypoint to install into purpose built prefabricated utility pods, prior shipping to site.

The HIU’s are equipped with Kamstrup 403 heating and cooling meters and WilSon’s patented designed smart metering system. This offers ‘pay as you go’ option or can be operated on a credit billing basis.  With the smart metering system, property managers benefit from receiving 15-minute data, automatically sent to their systems, to manage services and resident queries

Andy Wilkinson, CEO of WilSon Energy, commented: “HIU commissioning is very specialised due to the fact these units are complex systems responsible for transferring heat from a central heating source to individual dwellings. They require specific knowledge and training due to their individual components, including heat exchangers, pumps, valves, and their controls which need to be set to achieve optimum performance.

“On this project WilSon Energy engineers carried out full commissioning of the HIU and CIU units, working to the main client’s specification, as well as the metering system, which now integrates with the site-wide platform.

“The WilSon Energy team also worked in conjunction with the site’s appointed commissioning contractor to ensure compliance with the checklist issued by appointed energy consultants, Fairheat.”

For more information about WilSon Energy’s heating, cooling, smart metering and billing services, visit: https://wilsonenergy.co.uk/about-wilson-energy-2/.

For more information about WilSon Energy’s metering and billing services, visit www.wilsonenergy.co.uk.

Integrated heating and billing solutions specialists, WilSon Energy has been appointed to improve the electricity supply and manage metering at Globe Works Mill, a new residential development in Bolton town centre. The Wilson Energy team will provide a private electricity network, smart metering and billing services.

The scheme, being regenerated by a leading UK developer, is a former mill which was rebuilt in 1929 and served a variety of industrial purposes throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries.

Now, the site is being converted into 150, ultra-modern, high specification residential apartments with a mixture of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom properties, aimed at a growing professional market. The development will feature a reception and concierge service and conserve the building’s heritage, by making extensive use of copper fixtures and exposed brickwork.

Given its heritage, the existing electricity supply network has insufficient capacity for the 150 apartments. WilSon Energy has been awarded the contract by the main developer to create a private electricity network and supply, install and commission its own smart metering solution.

The build program will consist of three phases, with each phase of properties being sold or rented on completion.

Having surveyed the site and the electrical infrastructure, the main electrical contractor has installed individual switched fused isolators for each apartment with meter tails, ensuring that meter installation time will be straight forward and time efficient, supporting the overall build programme timeline.

Andy Wilkinson, CEO at WilSon Energy said: “Our engineers will be deploying individual MID approved (billing standard) single phase electricity meters, each operating with a SIM card on GSM, to transfer automated data to our servers.

“As each of the apartments will have an electrical heating system via panel heaters and an electrical water storage facility, the detailed data retrieved from the meters will assist, not only for the billing, but for energy analysis and to help manage customer queries.”

WilSon Energy has also been contracted by the scheme’s property management representatives to provide billing and bureau services to residents, once the properties are occupied.

For more information about how WilSon Energy can support electricity supply and smart metering in residential developments, visit: https://wilsonenergy.co.uk/about-wilson-energy-2/.

WilSon Energy, a leading provider of fully integrated Heating, Metering, Pre-Payment and Billing & Bureau Services, has been commissioned to carry out a full audit of the heat network system and private wire electricity network for commercial supplies and 48 residential retirement properties in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

WilSon Energy supplied the heat interface units (HIU) and metering for Lace Housing, a development catering for over 55s with supported living, back in 2010. However, since installation, the system had not been regularly managed or maintained in house, except for a few ad hoc purchases of spare parts, so had become dormant, reducing its efficiency and causing poor quality water.

Recently new staff members have joined the client team and have a new vision for the development. WilSon Energy has been appointed to support them in auditing and updating the heating system, eliminating water quality issues and improving metering and billing.

Andy Wilkinson, CEO at WilSon Energy, said: “Having previously worked with the client in 2010, we were pleased that we could step in to rectify some of the issues they were experiencing.

“Residents were complaining that their apartments were too hot because of heat gain from the HIU. We found that insulation jackets covering the complete HIU were effective, yet heat trapped within the unit was causing components to prematurely fail.

“They were also experiencing issues with a lack of transparency around metering information, billing details and could not access charging and consumption data for heating, hot water and electrical energy usage. Approximately 80% of the heat energy meters installed had error codes, so were not recording consumption. Many tenants had previously complained about incorrect bills and queried energy usage, while the management team was finding it difficult to manage billing.”

Under the contract, WilSon Energy has conducted an initial site survey, which highlighted various issues, including system data collection, monitoring and component failure. In addition, there was air circulating within the system which was causing alarms on the heat energy meters.

Andy Wilkinson continues: “Having identified metering and data transmission issues, we installed a new data collection device and rectified existing faults to ensure 100% data accuracy across the network of water, electricity and heat. The team has also replaced numerous components and came up with a solution for the heat gain issue so by upgrading the HIUs to bring them up to modern standards, saving the client money.”

As well as managing the private energy network and smart meters, WilSon Energy will support the landlord with a complete meter monitoring, billing and bureau service and a customer excellence team.

A spokesperson from Lace Housing added: “With the previous system, we were not receiving data and had issues with incorrect billing, which had repercussions for our residents.

“WilSon Energy has been pivotal in eradicating these issues by providing technical support and recommendations on reducing our costs while supporting our tenants with accurate readings and more transparent billing.”

Andy concludes: “Monitoring energy consumption and data accurately is vital to ensuring systems operate efficiently and tenants are assured of fair utility billing. In the current economic climate, we were pleased that we could replace components in the most cost-effective way, while supporting the management team with our unrivalled customer service.

“Now that the project is back on track, our key focus is to assist on managing and maintaining the system and offering the best advice, so the commercial client gets the maximum return on their investment.”

For more information about WilSon Energy’s private energy networks and smart metering services, visit: https://wilsonenergy.co.uk/.

The much-anticipated heat networks regulation, outlined in the Government’s Energy Security Bill to be managed by Ofgem, is expected to come into force next year. Andy Wilkinson, Managing Director at WilSon Energy, explains the aims of this new regulation, what benefits it will deliver to consumers and he believes it is an essential move for the industry.

What are heat networks?

Heat networks supply heat and hot water from a central source to consumers via a network of pipes and are known as either a communal or a district heat network.

Communal heat networks are the most common form of heat network in the UK, providing heat and hot water to multiple premises and customers within a single building. District heat networks supply heat to more than one building, often covering a large area and supplying several buildings.

Currently, there are over 14,000 heat networks in the UK, providing heating and hot water to approximately 480,000 consumers[1].

What are the main benefits of heat networks?

Heat networks are one of the most cost-effective ways of decarbonising heating in built-up areas and will play a crucial part in helping the UK reach its net-zero targets.

More importantly, as well as supporting regeneration, they offer a fair and competitive price to consumers that will help reduce the cost of living.

Why is the regulation heat network regulation needed?

To date, the sector has remained unregulated, with no sector-specific protections for heat network consumers. In 2018, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) carried out a sector study finding that while, on average, heat networks deliver a comparable service to individual heating systems, there was a sufficient minority of consumers who receive significantly worse outcomes, such as high prices and frequent outages.

In addition, data from the Climate Change Committee estimated that around 18% of UK heat could come from heat networks by 2050 to support cost-effective delivery of carbon targets (up from around 2% currently).

As a result of these findings, Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, have been shaping a new regulatory framework based on consumer protection requirements and supporting decarbonisation aims that heat network operators and suppliers must comply with.

How will this regulation benefit consumers?

These measures will regulate the sector and Ofgem will help to ensure consumers get a fair, competitive and proficient service.

The regulation includes powers to introduce an authorisation regime so organisations supplying heat through a heat network or operating a heat network will be regulated. This means that, ultimately, operators will be accountable for the way they work.

Ofgem will also have the powers to investigate and intervene on networks where prices for consumers seem disproportionate compared with heat networks with similar characteristics, or if prices are significantly higher than those consumers would expect to pay if they were served by an alternative and comparable heating system.

In summary, the intention is that these conditions and regulation will provide fairer pricing and transparent information for consumers, a higher quality service and minimum technical standards for heating provision.

How will the regulation support Climate Change?

The largest share of CO₂ emissions from UK buildings comes from space heating and water heating, so driving energy efficiency in this area is an important part of the UK’s decarbonisation goals.

These new measures will support the decarbonisation of the sector and energy efficiency improvements by promoting technical standards and introducing carbon emissions limits on heat networks.

The growth and decarbonisation of the market will consequently make a vital contribution to government’s ambitious net zero ambition, and the role of heat networks is set to expand significantly.

What are the implications for non-compliance?

Some of the proposals under consideration include giving Ofgem powers to issue fines for poor levels of service. As regulator, Ofgem could also have the ability to order operators pay compensation in cases where there is a supply outage.

There are also proposed protections for vulnerable customers, such as elderly occupants or users with specific health conditions, by ensuring improved awareness among operators about individual users connected to the network.

Why is WilSon Energy in favour of Ofgem’s heat networks regulation?
As a leading supplier of fully integrated heating systems, and a heat network specialist, we are proud to set the industry standard by providing innovative and cost-effective solutions across the UK. We work with operators who are equally committed to delivering the most efficient heating solutions alongside the most robust data collection systems, that ensure we remain accountable for the service we deliver.

WilSon Energy has been providing billing and bureau services, together with, Pay As You Go (PAYG) Management services for heat networks and private multi-utility networks since 2009. We assist our clients by ensuring our services are delivered to meet the Heat Network (Metering & Billing) Regulations 2014 and in accordance with the Heat Trust.

We are compliant and make ourselves accountable by following best practice so our clients benefit from a fair and transparent service that benefits the wider community and environment.

To date, the market has been relatively unregulated, which has left many guidelines open to interpretation negatively impacting the customer. While we have always followed the framework set out by trusted associations such as Heat Trust, these new regulations will ensure a fair and level playing field for all.

What was the consultation period?

Feedback on the proposals being jointly conducted with Ofgem, were being sought until 27 October.

When will the regulations be introduced?

The new heat networks regulation is anticipated to come into force as early as early in 2024.

Following a period of being automatically authorised to operate, all heat networks will be required to notify to Ofgem to maintain their authorised status.

Government advice is that all heat networks prepare for regulation now by following existing good practice, such as that set out by the Heat Trust and the industry’s Code of Practice.

For more information on how we WilSon Energy can meet your energy needs, visit: https://wilsonenergy.co.uk/ or call us today on 01636 857 240.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-security-bill-factsheets/energy-security-bill-factsheet-heat-networks-regulation-and-zoning