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UTILITY WEEK | 28Th FEbrUarY - 6Th March 2014 | 13 Research out efficiently. Overall, respondents rated their confidence on this point as 3.8 out of a possible 5. One-quarter of suppliers were "extremely confident" they had this information, and only 13 per cent were not confident. However, a different picture emerges when it comes to the more complex areas of the rollout, such as identifying difficult buildings. Only 23 per cent of respondents said that, as it stands today, they have pro- cesses in place to identify and deal with mul- tiple dwelling units. This figure is even lower for supplier respondents, with just one in five having the processes in place. Only 37 per cent of respondents (35 per cent of supplier respondents) had processes in place to deal with difficult meter locations. Only 50 per cent were able to identify and deal with multiple meters in one unit, and 58 per cent with mixed commercial and residen- tial units. As one respondent commented: "DNOs will have problems accessing all difficult buildings listed above. A more co-ordinated and targeted approach is needed with all suppliers." There was widespread agreement among respondents that difficulties in the rollout could arise from varying forms of address information. Although addressing standards are com- mon across both suppliers and DNOs, they are not using consistent standards. More than three-quarters of respondents antici- pated difficulties arising from suppliers hold- ing and exchanging addressing information with other stakeholders in different formats. A similar number foresaw difficulties arising from an inability to identify difficult buildings . Slightly more than half the respondents anticipated difficulties arising from suppliers holding inaccurate or incomplete addressing information. The UPRN The electricity and gas industries use differ- ent meter identifiers to distinguish between customers and there is no link between them. As things stand, the only way of linking the gas and electricity identifiers is by matching associated addresses. But the two industries differ in how they define an address: for elec- tricity it is the meter location, while for gas it is the premises address. And some premises have no postal address. These different approaches compromise address data quality and create difficulties when trying to match addresses to meter point references across different systems and organisations. A unique property reference is, how- ever, already being used by government and private organisations to enable accu- rate and consistent address referencing for the exchange of data. Ordnance Survey's address data pinpoints every property with a specific identifying number – the unique property reference number (UPRN). Accord- ing to Ordnance Survey, by linking the UPRN to meter point references, use of this by the energy sector could eradicate the ambiguity inherent in the current arrangements. Ordnance Survey's Jane Johnson said: "A single premises identifier would put the energy industry in a far stronger place than it is in now to realise the real gains on offer from smart metering. It would add value to energy businesses by creating interop- erability across existing databases and departments, eliminating the need to match multiple datasets and its attendant risk to commercial confidentiality. And ultimately pan-energy sector adoption of a single prem- ises identifier could future proof data by pre- paring suppliers and network providers for the onset of smart grids. More importantly, it will enhance consumer trust by deliver- ing the right notification and resources to the right customer, at the right place at the right time." The Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) has acknowledged the ben- efits to the smart meter rollout of the UPRN. However, only half the respondents were aware of the UPRN, with awareness far less pronounced among DNO respondents. Exchanging information The survey identified respondents' recogni- tion that there is a strong requirement for market participants to exchange addressing information. Asked which market partici- pants would need to exchange such informa- tion, respondents identified suppliers first, closely followed by meter installers and then DNOs and the DCC. Looking beyond the smart meter rollout, respondents saw numerous benefits from the ability to exchange information. Responses to the questions: "Looking further ahead, what information in relation to the premises will need to be shared to enable the smart grid," supplier responses included: • "Property type, energy usage characteris- hOw strOnGly dO yOu aGree Or disaGree with each Of the fOllOwinG statements ? i anticipate difficulties in the rOllOut due tO… Strongly disagree Disagree Agree No Agree strongly Yes Neither agree/disagree different suppliers holding and exchanging addressing information with your organisation in different forms an inability to identify difficult buildings suppliers holding inaccurate or incomplete addressing information Key: 10% 10% 10% 14% 19% 19% 5% 5 % 10% 71% 62% 52% 5% 10% 76% 72% 52% avg are yOu aware Of the unique prOperty reference number? Overall supplier dnO 47% 75% 53% 25% 50% 50%