What we have achieved

At a time of increased focus on climate change and energy prices, we are proud of the work being carried out on the development of smart metering. We have successfully completed a pilot involving over 500 non-domestic electricity customers, which involved the use of our smart metering device. The solution has the potential to be used by 2.5 million commercial users. In addition to measuring the amount of energy used, by utilising modern communication routes, the meter can be read remotely to provide accurate meter readings without needing access to the consumer's premises. The meter readings can be collected at half hourly intervals, allowing them to track and monitor their energy consumption and gain a greater understanding of when energy is used and where efficiencies can be realised. The solution also gives organisations with multiple locations across the country the ability to verify and compare their meter readings from all their sites, with data available via a secure website the same day as the readings are collected.

Our metering business has also installed over 3,000 automated meter reading units to businesses via their gas suppliers. These meters remove the requirement for meter reading visits and aim to increase billing accuracy while reducing cost.

As part of our work on inclusion and diversity, in the UK, the metering contact centre at Gloucester has been working closely with Remploy to support the centre's ongoing recruitment. Remploy helps to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities or heart conditions. The aim is to provide a working environment where all employees are equal members of the organisation, from recruitment, into training and beyond. The work undertaken has resulted in adjustments being made to the recruitment process as well as the workplace. Within the recruitment process, consideration is given to issues such as offering support with filling in application forms and providing large font size options for any assessments. Adjustments to the workplace have ranged from redesigning work stations to using clear markings on cupboards and walkways. Buddying arrangements and additional training have also been provided where appropriate. Throughout the process, efforts have been made to discuss issues with employees directly so that the adjustments made meet their requirements and allow them to receive the full benefit. In October 2006, these efforts were recognised when the metering centre was awarded the ‘National Remploy Leading the Way Award’.

We have been working across Great Britain to regenerate former town gas works. The programme is for a range of developments, which we expect to result in the building of 1,260 houses and flats, including 414 social or affordable units, from those sites regenerated in 2006/07. Other buildings on these reclaimed sites range from a primary school, a college, retail units, offices and industrial units, to a power station. The regeneration of this land can involve the removal of old buildings and structures as well as land decontamination work. In regenerating the sites we have been piloting a range of alternative technologies to minimise the amount of material taken off site to landfill. Last year we recycled 65% of our excavated material.

A specialised environmental process involving bioremediation has been introduced to clean up a former gas work site in Hull. Microbes already in the soil are stimulated to break down the tarry deposits to enable the soil to be reused. Around 66,000 tonnes of materials have been treated on site, thereby eliminating the need for over 6,000 truck movements. A tent, covering an area around the size of a football pitch, is used to protect the area from low temperatures and moisture. This work brings benefits to the local communities, while cleaning up the industrial heritage of the past and delivering financial returns for the Company.

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