Smart Metering Systems (SMS), which manages 1.3 million meters across the country, has said it expects to be back to pre-Covid levels of installations by the end of the month.
The company’s chief operating officer Tim Mortlock told Utility Week SMS had deliberately adopted a cautious approach when it re-started non-emergency work back in June. However, he said bookings were already ahead of pre-Covid levels and he expected this to filter through to installation rates within the next two weeks.
However, he cautioned that there was still uncertainty surrounding the impact local lockdowns may have on the rollout over the coming months.
Mortlock was speaking on the back of the announcement of the company’s half-year results, which showed revenue from meter and data assets up 11 per cent to £75.9 million. The company has a contracted smart meter order pipeline of more than two million devices, which is expected to add a further £40 million of revenue over the rollout period.
SMS said the extension to the UK smart meter rollout deadline to 1 July 2025 provided “a smoother runway for installations over coming years”.
However, Mortlock urged the government to continue to invest in and promote the benefits of the technology to consumers.
Asked about the possibility of the government backing a mandatory rollout of smart meters in the non-domestic market, Mortlock advised caution.
He added: “We are of the view that smart meters stand up on their own merits. Rather than forcing people to do something, choice is an important part of the industry.”
SMS has also continued to develop its carbon reduction assets arm, although this too has impacted by the pandemic.
The company has run a pilot with a national hotel chain of smart heating controls, which was due to move to rollout just before the lockdown. Mortlock said the company was “keen to step back into this area”.
The acquisition of energy technology firm Solo Energy in March saw SMS enter the aggregation market and it is currently working on trials of its Behind the Meter solar and battery project. It has partnered with five local authorities to test the scheme in up to 1,500 homes. This includes the Orkney Reflex local energy system project.
SMS has also has exclusivity to 117.5MW grid-scale battery storage “shovel-ready” sites with a further pipeline of projects at various stages of development. These projects are expected to be constructed over the next 12 to 18 months.