Are connected devices a risky business for energy providers?

Smart-Meter

Increasingly, smart devices are being connected to smart meters and other microchip-bearing pieces of energy-related apparatus. With smart home platforms such as British Gas’ Hive, German tado and Google’s Nest gaining market share, energy companies have access to valuable customer data while consumers can monitor, control and reduce energy consumption.

For energy suppliers, empowering consumers in the control of their consumption through smart technology could become pivotal in attracting and keeping customers amid mounting competition. However, as these energy suppliers engage more with consumers through smart, connected technology, they open themselves up to a range of risks.

Should the security of the system be breached or the installation fail to fulfil performance claims then consumers will not be sympathetic. So the pace of growth of connected devices in energy will depend on the successful combination of flawless performance with effortless usability and impregnable security.

With quality comes confidence

end-to-end-newNaturally, utility companies are keen to have assurance. The level of confidence in the technology and its usability will be a crucial influence on the rate of expansion in the deployment of connected devices in energy.

As well as smart home devices, a powerful spur to M2M growth in the UK energy sector is the national smart metering rollout. The information and communication infrastructure under the stewardship of the Data and Communications Company (DCC) will create new openings. But it brings cause too for trepidation within the energy industry.

Gas and electricity provider RWE npower’s smart programme director, Neil Pennington, summarised this recently at an industry seminar: “Testing must be robust, end-to-end across industry parties and the DCC and in live situations. If interoperability is not consistent and systems and processes not failsafe, it risks undermining consumer confidence.”

The imperative to test rigorously is clear. Large energy suppliers must be ready for DCC interface testing in autumn 2015. They have huge rollout profiles that will run to installing tens of thousands of meters a week. Small energy suppliers too will need to interface with the DCC by the 2020 deadline.

The first Big Data challenge?

remote-heating-controlArguably the installation of meters will be the first Big Data challenge in the smart metering programme. The rollout will involve upgrades in utility companies’ information technology including: changes in SAP and Oracle back-end systems; asset management systems; and operational job scheduling and handheld devices. With this complexity, the potential for failure at any stage of the rollout is high. The associated costs and delays when fixing defects are a strong reason to implement a stringent quality and testing programme.

Interfaces and back-end systems will have to be tested to ensure they can handle the load as it increases through rollout. Furthermore, large amounts of complex integration and acceptance testing will be required and need careful management.

All devices will need to be tested for compliance with the Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications version 2 to ensure they are interoperable with the DCC and interchangeable with other compliant devices.

Angus-Panton
Angus Panton of SQS Group

This becomes keenly important when a consumer changes supplier. The new supplier (and the consumer) will expect their predecessor’s assets to work with DCC services in a consistent manner. Failure to do so will create stranded assets but perhaps more importantly it could produce discontented customers. Difficulties in switching supplier have already undermined energy retail competition in the UK – new obstacles would be acutely unwelcome with consumers having little tolerance for shortcomings.

The importance of assured performance and usability in connected devices is a responsibility that both senior executives and quality assurance teams are highly aware of. After all, for the energy sector, confidence in smart, connected technology will fuel the pace of change the market will demand.

The author is Angus Panton, director of Power and Communications at software quality specialist, SQS Group Ltd

CASE STUDY: Tried and tested

A UK energy utility venturing into the remote energy control market with a new device needed confidence that the product would enhance its reputation by fulfilling customer expectations, with no room for even a minor shortfall.

The company needed to be assured that the device was reliable, easy to operate and a sound reflection of the company’s commitment to its customers. It sought the services of SQS as an independent quality partner that would provide expertise with advice based on experience, and to manage the governance of testing.

Challenges for the brand

The primary requirement was the assurance that the quality and fitness for purpose of the device was such that it enhanced its brand, and minimised the risk of damage to reputation. It was crucially important that there was unflawed continuity between the branding on the device and the website via which customers would control it.

Solution

From the outset SQS provided comprehensive reporting via a ‘quality barometer’ throughout the development of its energy control device. This ‘quality barometer’ provided clarity at any given stage in the development that the company’s requirements were being met.

Specific testing activity included:

  1. Early exploratory testing to ensure that the system operation was intuitive and the device was easy to use.
  2. Engaging the utility company closely during the peak simulation exercise – with the IT infrastructure architect and database administrators present at test runs.
  3. Repeat testing on a range of browsers along with testing on different screens was vital. Tests encompassed usability as well as performance.
  4. Testing on the prototype version was manual to prevent any incorrect images or content being missed. This decision reflected the intensity of the need to ensure all the utility company’s aims were met, particularly its expectations for the device’s usability and for consistent branding.
  5. Non-functional tests included failover and disaster recovery with a top priority being to ensure user settings were preserved in either instance.

Ultimately, the utility company had confidence that the device would provide its customers with a reliable and resilient service and be a first-rate representation of the company.

For more information see: www.sqs.com

 

 

RECENT ARTICLES

Semtech enhances global connectivity with NTN support in HL78 modules

Posted on: March 29, 2024

Semtech Corporation has announced the integration of non-terrestrial network (NTN) support into its HL series LPWA modules, specifically the HL7810 and HL7812. This significant advancement showcases a leap forward in enabling uninterrupted global connectivity even amidst the most challenging conditions.

Read more

Enhance EV charging performance with cellular connectivity

Posted on: March 28, 2024

Electric vehicles (EVs) are steadily growing their market share at the expense of internal combustion engine vehicles. The growth is fuelled by several factors. Perhaps most importantly, prices for EVs have started to drop as competition in the industry is intensifying. New players and models are emerging, prompting several established EV makers to lower their

Read more
FEATURED IoT STORIES

What is IoT? A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on: April 5, 2023

What is IoT? IoT, or the Internet of Things, refers to the connection of everyday objects, or “things,” to the internet, allowing them to collect, transmit, and share data. This interconnected network of devices transforms previously “dumb” objects, such as toasters or security cameras, into smart devices that can interact with each other and their

Read more

The IoT Adoption Boom – Everything You Need to Know

Posted on: September 28, 2022

In an age when we seem to go through technology boom after technology boom, it’s hard to imagine one sticking out. However, IoT adoption, or the Internet of Things adoption, is leading the charge to dominate the next decade’s discussion around business IT. Below, we’ll discuss the current boom, what’s driving it, where it’s going,

Read more

9 IoT applications that will change everything

Posted on: September 1, 2021

Whether you are a future-minded CEO, tech-driven CEO or IT leader, you’ve come across the term IoT before. It’s often used alongside superlatives regarding how it will revolutionize the way you work, play, and live. But is it just another buzzword, or is it the as-promised technological holy grail? The truth is that Internet of

Read more

Which IoT Platform 2021? IoT Now Enterprise Buyers’ Guide

Posted on: August 30, 2021

There are several different parts in a complete IoT solution, all of which must work together to get the result needed, write IoT Now Enterprise Buyers’ Guide – Which IoT Platform 2021? authors Robin Duke-Woolley, the CEO and Bill Ingle, a senior analyst, at Beecham Research. Figure 1 shows these parts and, although not all

Read more

CAT-M1 vs NB-IoT – examining the real differences

Posted on: June 21, 2021

As industry players look to provide the next generation of IoT connectivity, two different standards have emerged under release 13 of 3GPP – CAT-M1 and NB-IoT.

Read more

IoT and home automation: What does the future hold?

Posted on: June 10, 2020

Once a dream, home automation using iot is slowly but steadily becoming a part of daily lives around the world. In fact, it is believed that the global market for smart home automation will reach $40 billion by 2020.

Read more

5 challenges still facing the Internet of Things

Posted on: June 3, 2020

The Internet of Things (IoT) has quickly become a huge part of how people live, communicate and do business. All around the world, web-enabled devices are turning our world into a more switched-on place to live.

Read more