By Frikkie Malan, Chief Commercial Officer, Remote Metering Solutions (RMS).
Frikkie Malan, Chief Commercial Officer of Remote Metering Solutions (RMS).
From our homes and offices to supporting infrastructure like water and energy networks. The built environment touches all aspects of our lives. Historically, the built environment has been about physical space. It is rarely seen as a space where technological changes matter.
The times are changing
Accelerating decarbonisation in the built environment proves crucial for a sustainable future, compelling players in this ecosystem to invest significantly in decarbonisation measures.
The utility management landscape is experiencing unprecedented change, which is a critical enabler of this transformation. At the moment, much emphasis is placed on innovation and aiding property owners in embracing the transition to clean energy, thereby reducing their buildings’ “operational” carbon emissions, which stem from heating, cooling, and lighting.
This evolution, driven by technological advancements, reshapes consumer expectations, shifting the utility management industry from its traditional focus on meter readings and straightforward billing towards a more integrated, dynamic, and sustainable model.
Smart metering drives actionable intelligence
The age-old practice of monthly meter readings is drawing to a close in the face of the modern world’s dynamic and fluctuating energy demands.
Traditional methods and legacy systems no longer suffice to capture the complete picture of energy consumption and building operations, necessitating a shift towards real-time load profile consumption data enabled by smart metering.
The transition to smart metering isn’t solely about collecting more data; it’s about ensuring accurate, transparent billing and leveraging actionable intelligence to optimise energy usage, reduce costs and downtime, and improve decision-making.
Real-time analytics of energy consumption data facilitate predictive maintenance by identifying concerns before they escalate.
Valuable consumption data delivered by smart metering enables both effective energy management and streamlined maintenance processes. Decision-making is accelerated, and outcomes are of higher quality.
The need for real-time data rather than monthly readings is shifting; companies like RMS are gearing up for a total shift away from old-style monitoring.
This newer technology represents a fundamental shift in utility management, transitioning from a reactive to a proactive, real-time model, prioritising efficiency and sustainability.
RMS smart meters
The energy mix of the future is diversified
Reliance on a single grid is outdated, and energy diversification, or using different energy sources to meet demand, has become imperative. The challenges of load shedding, the urgency of decarbonisation, and the volatility of energy markets demand a more flexible, resilient approach.
Today, the new normal consists of a blend of generators, embedded solar panels, and energy wheeling and storage solutions. This mix characterises the modern energy landscape, enabling property owners to consistently meet supply needs, smooth fluctuations, decarbonise their operations, and meet the energy needs of their tenants.
Integrating renewable energy sources with existing systems requires meticulous planning and management and adequate infrastructure and business processes to ensure grid flexibility, demand response, reliability, and efficiency.
Empowering tenants through active participation
Investing in the latest technology alone is insufficient when managing energy usage in buildings, and success often relies on behavioural factors. The International Energy Agency (IEA) calculated that changing human behaviour and creating awareness can realise up to 25% of energy efficiency potential, and smart metering is an essential technology that provides the information to motivate people to reassess their habits.
The role of tenants in energy management is crucial and undergoing a significant shift. Most of today’s tenants are informed, environmentally conscious, and financially savvy. They demand a say in their buildings’ energy sources and are keen on the environmental benefits and financial savings of alternative energy sources. Investments in the requisite smart metering technology are required to empower tenants to participate and actively take ownership of their usage habits.
It is becoming clear that a sense of community is vital to managing expectations and changing South Africa’s energy consumption habits.
The evolution of utility management
Utility management continues to evolve from a straightforward process of meter reading and bill processing to a complex ecosystem of transaction management.
Navigating this complexity necessitates significant investment in system development, skills enhancement, and business process optimisation.
Uncovering new value propositions
The wealth of consumption data available today presents a goldmine of untapped potential. However, data remains useless unless it becomes actionable intelligence that provides insight into consumption patterns, behaviour, and system response.
Beyond billing and recovery, data-driven insights are key to unlocking enhanced customer experiences and new value propositions and insights to drive the transition from traditional utility management to a converged solution. By adopting integrated smart systems, property owners can optimise utility recovery, drive sustainability, and benefit from remote, real-time asset management.
The future is now
The built environment is rich with opportunities for innovation and growth, and the utility manager of the future is no longer a distant concept; it’s a reality.
Through the strategic adoption of technology, utility managers redefine the value of their offerings and continue to add unparalleled value to the lives of property owners. In this new era, utility management is more than just billing tenants; it’s about driving efficiency, embracing sustainability, and unlocking new opportunities for growth and profitability.
