CTID
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2012
- Messages
- 41
- Reaction score
- 0
Just been reading issue 25 of 'Switched On' magazine. The following text is an article from it. What views are there on what can only be seen, in my opinion, as the government once again failing to see the bigger picture.
'The government has announced that it has rejected the electrical installation industry's business case for the inclusion of an integral isolating switch in smart meters. The decision, made in April, was made despite the fact that none of the cost/benefit information on which the detailed case was based was challenged and despite support from the Association of Meter Operators and the Energy Networks Association.
The announcement was included in the "Government Response to the consultation on draft licence conditions and technical specifications for the roll-out of gas and electrical smart metering equipment." The consultation had been launched last August, and was reported on in the winter issue of Switched On.
To quote the executive summary of the government response: "Views were sought on a requirement to include an isolation switch in the Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specification to allow electrical contractors to work safely between the meter and the consumer unit (fusebox) without requiring the main supply fuse (the cut-out) to be removed. A majority of respondents opposed the requirement on grounds including cost and the delay this would cause on the roll-out. The Government has concluded that there is no material evidence to support regulatory intervention on the grounds of safety or market failure as part of the Smart Metering Implementation Programme, but will work with The relevant regulatory authorities to develop a process to help stakeholders find an alternative solution."
The electrical industry's case for inclusion of an integral isolating switch, which was co-ordinated by the Electrical Safety Council, has been submitted to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) last summer.
The electrical safety council is disappointed with this outcome which it believes not only fails to take into proper account the safety, technical and financial merits of the business case, but also wider national interest issues including the government's aim to reduce regulatory and administrative burdens on small businesses.
The council has updated the original business case to take into account subsequent developments and to form the basis of ongoing discussions with government. The updated case can be viewed on the industry section of the councils website, www.esc.org.uk, in the 'smart metering' section.'
'The government has announced that it has rejected the electrical installation industry's business case for the inclusion of an integral isolating switch in smart meters. The decision, made in April, was made despite the fact that none of the cost/benefit information on which the detailed case was based was challenged and despite support from the Association of Meter Operators and the Energy Networks Association.
The announcement was included in the "Government Response to the consultation on draft licence conditions and technical specifications for the roll-out of gas and electrical smart metering equipment." The consultation had been launched last August, and was reported on in the winter issue of Switched On.
To quote the executive summary of the government response: "Views were sought on a requirement to include an isolation switch in the Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specification to allow electrical contractors to work safely between the meter and the consumer unit (fusebox) without requiring the main supply fuse (the cut-out) to be removed. A majority of respondents opposed the requirement on grounds including cost and the delay this would cause on the roll-out. The Government has concluded that there is no material evidence to support regulatory intervention on the grounds of safety or market failure as part of the Smart Metering Implementation Programme, but will work with The relevant regulatory authorities to develop a process to help stakeholders find an alternative solution."
The electrical industry's case for inclusion of an integral isolating switch, which was co-ordinated by the Electrical Safety Council, has been submitted to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) last summer.
The electrical safety council is disappointed with this outcome which it believes not only fails to take into proper account the safety, technical and financial merits of the business case, but also wider national interest issues including the government's aim to reduce regulatory and administrative burdens on small businesses.
The council has updated the original business case to take into account subsequent developments and to form the basis of ongoing discussions with government. The updated case can be viewed on the industry section of the councils website, www.esc.org.uk, in the 'smart metering' section.'
