Metering & Utilities

Plextek has extensive experience in developing technologies for smart metering, smart grid and other utility-related applications.

Technology Design for Metering and Utilities

Plextek has enabled clients to develop innovative products in areas such as electricity, gas, water and energy metering.  We were one of the first companies to develop long-life, battery-powered communication technology used in the earliest remote meter reading deployments.

We have recently formed a spin-out company, Telensa, which markets a wireless system for remote control of street lighting.   This system is based on our Ultra Narrow Band (UNB) technology.  UNB has a wide range of applications, for example it enables smart meter rollout to be realised with significantly lower costs that alternative approaches.

In addition to developing proprietary technology we also develop products based on open standards such as Zigbee and Bluetooth.  We continuously monitor new standards in this area such as 802.15.4g.

Example Projects

• Plextek were one of the first companies to develop smart metering technologies. We developed a wireless telemetry device for gas meters that had to operate from a single Lithium D-cell battery for over 10 years. A trial system of 50,000 units was successfully installed for British Gas in the UK.

• A leading metering company selected Plextek's Ultra Narrow Band technology for a large city-wide trial of smart electricity meters. Plextek adapted the basic technology to provide very high sensitivity and rejection of interference. A number of advanced features were developed that enabled the smart meters to interface to the utility company's billing and control systems.