Wave finds old meters are a major cause of zero reads

Retailer Wave has called on wholesalers to proactively replace meters at the end of their operational life, after finding dilapidated meters are a major cause of zero reads.

The findings emerged from Project No Flow, a Market Improvement Funded study which Wave ran with Occutrace, to scrutinise meters not registering any consumption. Of 771 meters identified as zero-consuming, 64% had degraded to the point of ceasing to be functional. This has negative consequences for customers and across the market.

Wave reported: “A key finding from the report was that many wholesalers do not have proactive replacement programmes in place for NHH meters, something that Wave is eager to see change. By having meter replacement programmes in place and processes that help to identify zero consuming meters, any issues could be identified and resolved sooner, supporting Retailers in delivering reliable meter reads to customers.”

Natalie Martin, client services manager at Occutrace, commented: “The research has uncovered key insights into the initial lifespan of meters and how ageing meters begin to fail – providing an important outcome that highlights malfunctioning meters not only impact customer satisfaction but also disrupt accurate billing [and] wholesale settlement processes.

“The project has significantly enhanced the market’s understanding of the lifespan of meters and how important accurate readings are in terms of understanding water usage patterns and forecasting demands.”