Success Stories

OnStream - a new generation of smart meters

The Brief:

Having evaluated existing market offerings, OnStream, a National Grid company, decided to bring the next generation of smart electricity and gas meters to the UK market themselves. As a partner in this project OnStream engaged Abelon to develop the “smart core” firmware to provide a standalone communications and metering application platform. Gas and electricity metrology are directly supported in a market-leading low power design allowing either metering solution to work independently.

Our Approach:

OnStream’s new family of smart meters use multi-tasking firmware exclusively developed by Abelon. This family of meters uses a flexible “smart core” to provide a standalone communications and metering application platform. Gas and electricity metrology are directly supported in a market-leading low power design allowing either metering solution to work independently.

Integrated communications comes from GSM, GPRS and short range ZigBee wireless. Uniquely the platform can roam across all UK mobile networks providing the maximum coverage potential. The solution fully meets the ERA and DECC specifications, supporting time of use smart tariffs, Open Home Area Network and other functionality. The platform is a fully manageable remote asset providing secure delivery of data, alarms, advanced fraud protection and remote firmware upgrade.

Outcome:

The outcome of this project was an award-winning family of smart meters and Abelon System are now recognized as an outstanding design house in this market, to the extent that we are currently working with another international meter manufacturer to bring their next generation of smart gas meters to a worldwide market.

"Smart metering is on the brink of rapid expansion in the UK and it’s critical to create a product that meets the challenges of today’s market while providing a platform for additional feature delivery in the future. Our meters developed with a modular design and Abelon’s software will enable us to meet these challenges."
Clare Naunton - Smart Development Manager for OnStream