depend, amongst other things, on the objectives
that have been set, the structure of the business and
the nature of the customer base.”
4
Part of the technical challenge is to be able to net-
work large numbers of meters, comprising different
types and using different communication stan-
dards, collect and dispatch data and instructions,
keep track of meter errors, validate and transform
the data and simply store that magnitude of data.
It requires a software infrastructure that is scalable,
performs in real-time, is truly adaptable to cater for
new protocols and has built in error handling and
audit capabilities. This is entirely the type of busi-
ness/technical problem that Business Process
Management Software suites excel at.
Potential Solutions
Software like Microgen Aptitude provides an envi-
ronment in which easily embedding business rules –
such as meter data validation, error handling, data
transformation and so on – can be handled. Yet, it
also allows changes to be made rapidly and quickly
meaning that as new types of meters or devices
with different specifications, communication proto-
cols and so on are added, they can be readily and
cost effectively catered for in the software. Add to
this that the solution is highly scalable and robust,
being used by financial services firms and banks
.... thee smartt meterr iss sett too bee aa keyy partt
off thee neww energyy landscape
around the world to process masses of trading and
other data, it becomes easy to see why the technol-
ogy is viewed as the ideal smart metering solution
by many integrators and others in the UK.
Microgen is proactive in the UK’s smart metering
scene and has already developed a range of demon-
strations and ‘proof of concepts’ in the smart
metering area which UtiliPoint has seen. Given the
scale of interest and backed by government pres-
sure in the UK, Microgen is also experiencing
‘unprecedented’ interest in Aptitude as a potential
solution for these technical issues.
Today, the smart meter marks the next stage of
the meter’s evolution. “Made possible by technolog-
ical advances, driven by powerful business impera-
tives and given an extra push by strong political
forces, the smart meter is set to be a key part of the
new energy landscape,” according to LogicaCMG •
Gary Vassey is Vice President Europe, with
Utilipoint International Inc.
www.utilipoint.com
For more information on Microgen Aptitude see:
www.microgen.co.uk/microgen/aptitude_bpm.php
Footnotes
1. “Domestic Metering Innovation”, OFGEM, February, 2006.
2. “Metering Innovation – Next Steps”, OFGEM, June 2006.
3. “Smart Metering: Slowly, But Surely”, UtiliPoint IssueAlert, 4/4/2007.
4. “The Next Stage in Metering: Delivering Smart Value”, LogicaCMG
recent whitepaper.
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