Switch2 Wins European Award for Smart Metering Technology

Switch2 has won the European Smart Metering Technology of the Year Award for its Incontro smart billing and energy management system for community heating schemes. The Yorkshire-based company was also shortlisted for two other awards in the prestigious European Smart Energy Awards 2016, which were presented at a ceremony in London.

The stylish new Incontro technology takes smart metering to a new level. It is an advanced multifunctional energy system that combines either prepayment or credit billing with monitoring household energy usage; simple to use multi-zone thermostat, time and temperature control; and an in-home display.

Incontro helps developers and landlords to reduce debt risk and improve environmental performance, while making it simpler for residents to pay for their energy and control and monitor their energy usage.

The UK designed and manufactured technology was selected as winner by an independent judging panel comprising leading figures from the European utilities industry.

A spokesperson on behalf of Smart Energy Awards said: “The Smart Metering Technology of the year award was highly commended this year, making it a difficult call for the judges to make. The Incontro has a very strong focus on improving the customer experience, and is one of the few innovations to consider the benefits to pay-as-you-go consumers.”

Judges were also impressed to see such an innovative technology focused around the communal heating sector and by the consideration given by Switch2  to fuel poverty.

Kirsty Lambert, Director of Switch2 said: “It’s an honour to win this European award. Our intelligent technology transforms pay-as-you go billing to make it easier and more flexible for residents, while helping landlords and developers to achieve environmental compliance, secure income and improve cash flow on community energy schemes.”

Switch2 remotely manages and monitors the Incontro system from its UK customer service centre, which provides complete billing, prepayment and administration services to more than 50,000 homes across 400 community energy and district heating schemes.

Incontro builds on the success of Switch2’s award-winning G6 pay-as-you-go system, which has transformed energy prepayment in more than 25,000 homes connected to district housing.  Customers include housing providers such as Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, Wakefield District Housing, and Notting Hill Housing and Sheffield City Council.