The Data Communications Company (DCC) is a UK government-mandated organisation created to support a national rollout of smart meters and responsible for the secure communication infrastructure that supports smart metering across the nation. DCC smart metering is enabled through a licence provided by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
A quarterly report published by the government showed that in March 2024, 34.8 million smart meters were deployed in homes and small businesses across Britain; with 61% of all operating meters now being smart or advanced meters. The government has previously said that the replacement of traditional gas and electricity meters with smart meters is a quintessential part of meeting its Net Zero targets.
Smart meters are IoT-enabled devices that measure energy consumption in real-time and provide detailed information to both consumers and energy suppliers. Unlike traditional meters, smart meters communicate this data automatically and securely, eliminating the need for manual readings and enabling more accurate billing. Smart metering is commonly used for electricity and water metering purposes.
The DCC’s main function is to facilitate this communication. It operates a nationwide secure data network that connects millions of smart meters with energy suppliers and network operators. This network ensures that data is transmitted reliably and securely.
The DCC smart metering works by using smart meters to measure energy usage; communications hubs to relay the data to the network; data services to process and manage the data transmitted; and service users which are made up of energy suppliers, network operators and third parties.
In an announcement last year of Vodafone’s collaboration with the DCC, the smart meter network was accredited with reducing carbon emissions by 1 million tonnes – a sign that smart metering will become key in reducing energy consumption. The collaboration saw Vodafone sign a services agreement to provide 4G connectivity for Britain’s smart meter network for up to 15 years. Because the 4G network reaches nearly all of the UK population, it was alluded to as providing the opportunity for households to make the switch to smart metering.
In the announcement, Angus Flett, CEO of DCC said: “The smart meter network is a key part of the nation’s journey to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Even though there is still a long life and more capacity in the technology we are using today, we need to continuously look towards how our technology is fit for the future. 4G is a natural next step for our connectivity and is just one of a number of technical improvements the DCC is developing.”
Vodafone’s technology provides a Wide Area Network (WAN) to connect DCC servers with its Long-Term Evolution Communication HUbs.
In an indication of how smart metering can be continually improved, recent news from the DCC announced that utility provider GTC built a tool which would be deployed on its network. The new tool allows GTC to connect and communicate with smart meters, collecting information that can be used to diagnose issues and reduce costs associated with visits.
“Deploying a DCC Adapter onto our network is the natural progression for GTC, meaning we deliver better network management services and allow us to enhance the service we provide for our customers,” said Seth Townsley, Electricity Innovation & Transformation Manager, GTC in the announcement.
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