Purpose

Unmetered electricity supplies are typically
highway related supplies such as street lighting, traffic signals,
and speed cameras. As these supplies do not have a meter attached
to them to measure consumption, alternative means of measuring
consumption is required.
 
A meter administrator (MA) is a person or
organisation appointed to calculate the estimated energy
consumption for unmetered electricity supplies. The MA uses an
inventory list of assets (i.e. street light stock) and data from
photocell array (PECU array) that record times when lights come on
in the evening and go off in the morning to work out the
electricity consumption.
 
The calculated data is provided by the MA
monthly to an appointed Data Collector (currently Siemens Plc) who
collates the information and provides it to the nominated
electricity supplier (currently Npower Commercial Gas Limited) for
billing purposes. The data is also provided to the Council in a
split down format so that detailed analysis can be undertaken to
monitor carbon emissions (and any effect carbon reduction projects
may be having over time) as well as consumptions patterns across
the different types of unmetered supply stock.
 
The MA may also provide assistance and advice
to the Council regarding the operation of the PECU array and the
setting of the street lighting timing switches to optimise the
operational hours of the street lights and to keep the cost of
electricity supply to a minimum.
 
The existing MA contract is due to expire 31
March 2025. MA contracts are typically up to five years in length,
and estimated total value over five years is approximately
£55,000. Under the Council's constitution, a contract with
this estimated value requires a minimum three quote procurement
exercise to be undertaken to secure a new contract.

Content

Matt Townsend, Director of Highways and
Transport took a decision to authorise the commencement of a three
quote exercise to procure a contract for the provision of meter
administration services for the Council's unmetered electricity
supplies. The contract is to commence on or around 01 April 2025
for a period of up to five years.