Transport for London Case Study
How Hildebrand's sub-metering solution transformed energy management across London's busiest transport network
Background
Transport for London (TfL) is known for running one of the world's busiest transport networks, but they're responsible for more than just taking people from one destination to another. TfL has a business mandate to rent out commercial spaces within stations, from coffee shops and kiosks to retail stores, making it critical for them to accurately measure energy consumption across multiple sites.
However, with many meters in hard-to-reach areas underground with no wide area network (WAN) connectivity, keeping up with accurate energy and cost monitoring for both rail and tenant spaces was a tough task. TfL needed a reliable way to track energy consumption, no matter where it was being used.
Challenges
Connectivity Issues
Meters operating in no WAN areas underground, making traditional connectivity solutions impossible and creating data blind spots across the network.
Inaccurate Tenant Billing
Without exact consumption data, TfL was unable to bill tenants accurately, meaning some months tenants could be under or over paying for their energy usage.
Manual Reading Dependency
TfL depended mainly on manual reads, which required significant time and staff costs. Furthermore, if the meter was in a hard-to-reach location, manual reads became even more challenging.
Limited Data Access
Need to access data in bulk and from individual meters, requiring access to granular data that wasn't available with existing infrastructure.
Solution
Glow Sub-meters
Glow Meters can be placed in individual locations to extract consumption data from specific areas, enabling accurate tracking of each tenant's individual energy use. This granular approach allows for precise billing and better energy management across the entire network.
Connect Commissioning App
With our 'Connect' app, engineers can simply commission and manage individual meters. Engineers are able to check network status, compare meter data being sent versus actually displayed, and also set meter IDs for seamless integration.
Advanced NB-IoT Connectivity
Glow's advanced NB-IoT meter communications enable access to data in no WAN/intermittent areas underground. If available, Glow sub-meters can also support Wi-Fi connection for additional redundancy and flexibility.
Granular Data Access
Retrieve near-real-time consumption data through a variety of streams which best suit client needs (CSV/Platform). A wide range of parameters are available, including import energy, export energy, power, current, voltage, and more.
Dedicated Customer Care
We work with clients closely to ensure they are satisfied with the quality of our meters and the data service Glow provides. Our team provides ongoing support and works to align solutions with TfL's business structure and requirements.
Impact
Operational Improvements
- Consistent data connectivity underground
- Eliminated manual meter reads
- Seamless meter installation with Connect app
- Enhanced overall efficiency and accuracy
Business Benefits
- Precise tenant billing capabilities
- Improved revenue accuracy
- Reduced operational costs
- Better energy management insights
"Hildebrand's sub-metering solution has transformed our energy management capabilities, enabling us to accurately track consumption across our complex underground network and bill tenants precisely. The reliability and support have been exceptional."— TfL Operations Team
Future Outlook
TfL's new approach to energy management has given them greater control over both operational and tenant-related energy usage. By being able to accurately bill tenants and optimize energy usage across rail stations, this implementation proves how sub-metering can benefit both large sites and landlord operations.
Moving forward, TfL plans to build on these insights to continue improving efficiency and supporting their sustainability goals. The success of this deployment has positioned TfL as a leader in transport infrastructure energy management, setting a benchmark for other major transport operators worldwide.
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