Enabling consumer energy resources

MSPs ensure the customer’s meter is configured to allow electricity export to the grid or to participate in demand response programs. For example, they connect a hot water service to a ‘controlled load’ register on the electricity meter, allowing the electricity network to control when power is used to heat water, or enabling the retailer to coordinate water heating as part of a virtual power plant (VPP).

Complaints to EWON show that:

• any error made when configuring a smart meter to enable the customer to receive a feed-in tariff, or to participate in a controlled load program, may have a significant financial impact on the customer

• delays installing a new meter, or delays replacing a faulty meter, will also have a significant financial impact on customers

• a customer’s ability to optimize the benefits they receive from their CER investments (such as rooftop solar or battery storage) can be reduced where there are systemic delays in obtaining the data for their meter or if they are provided estimated data instead.

Case study five illustrates how MSPs may contribute to the problems experienced by customers with both electricity tariffs and the enabling of consumer energy resources.

 Case study six: MSPs IT system limits hot water