The Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) is seeking expressions of interest from third party suppliers to participate in a project which aims to tackle what the EIC terms the serious issue of theft of gas from domestic and commercial properties.
Energy theft is a growing issue in the UK. Thieves who tamper with the supply of gas and electricity to homes and businesses not only put their own safety at risk but also endanger the lives of their neighbours, and increase costs to energy customers, the Centre points out. One of the EIC’s partners from the gas distribution industry has identified a need to develop a way to prevent gas theft from domestic properties that are officially disconnected. If a property has not used a registered meter for more than 12 months, the gas distribution network (GDN) is notified of the requirement for disconnection.
It is during this disconnection that employees working for the GDN in question have identified that, in some cases, gas is still being used through the connection but not through the registered meter. The network operator’s need is for a device that can prevent disconnected services from being tampered with. It should also offer a cheaper alternative to disconnection in the street which, due to the man hours involved and the cost of this method, is an expensive exercise that is ultimately paid for by energy customers. Other key requirements for the solution are that it should be easy to fit, durable, simple for network staff to remove and available in various sizes. Solutions that have been previously considered in this area include spin caps, ball and chain and Wormald clamps, which have all failed testing, the Centre adds.
Ian Coates, innovation engineer at the Energy Innovation Centre, said: “We know that gas theft increases costs for customers and carries with it significant safety implications so identifying innovative solutions to this problem is an immediate priority for our network partner.
Deadline for expressions of interest is Friday October 17th, contact Ian Coates, [email protected] or 0151 348 8047.
