SECMP0038 'Sending Commands via PPMIDs'

As a Prepayment Meter Supplier, the Proposer’s customer base tends to be mainly in populous areas which usually have good signals. However, the risk of unpredictable or poor Wide Area Network (WAN) must be considered higher in less populous areas. This is especially critical for prepayment customers, since configuration Commands affect supply of energy to their homes. It is not viable to wait for an uncertain period for WAN quality to increase sufficiently, before their supply issues are addressed. SMETS1 solutions to address this problem have been developed and refined over 15 years, but the Proposer indicates that there are no current SMETS2+ solutions, other than sending an engineer with a Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) to the Consumer’s Premises.

This modification seeks to offer the option for Prepayment Meter Interface Devices (PPMIDs) to be able to pass fully formed GB Companion Specification (GBCS) Remote Party Commands onto the Home Area Network (HAN). It is expected that the Commands would usually be routed from the Supplier to the PPMID via Wi-Fi connectivity.