Smart Meter Payment (Pay as You Go) Options

Transcription

1 Smart Meter Payment (Pay as You Go) Options Purchase from a Vendor Online Purchase Via Home Display Via Phone Via Cash Machine Via 3 rd Parties No requirement for all Suppliers to offer all options each will specify and procure their own payment service provision. Key Assumption A customer will be issued with a specific purchase ID reference number by each supplier possibly in the form of a plastic card. Only live & valid ID numbers will be recognised by the payment system. Reference numbers could also be presented as barcodes for ease of use (e.g. on key fob)

2 Interoperable Interfaces GPRS PLC MESH Human Local Customer Remote Systems Gas and Electricity smart meters will have defined common interfaces. Each of these definitions will include protocols and data formatting rules to ensure that all meters will accept information and instructions from suitably authorised sources: - for the interface this would be subject to the system-wide Access Control provisions - for the Local interface this would be governed by the joining and security rules for devices on the smart metering local network By using defined meter interfaces, Suppliers and other parties can offer a range of innovative and differentiated options and services to support smart metering.

3 Purchase from a Vendor Customer uses supplier specific ID (e.g. top up swipe card) reference to purchase credit from a vendor Payment & Identifier processed by payment infrastructure provider and passed to Supplier Supplier updates account details and transmits Credit Update message to meter using Comms Vendor ID ID etc.

4 Purchase from a Vendor (alternative) Customer uses supplier specific ID (e.g. top up swipe card) reference to purchase credit from a vendor Payment & Identifier processed by payment infrastructure and passed to Supplier. Transmits Credit Update message to meter using Comms Vendor ID ID Supplier updates account details etc.

5 Online Purchase Customer purchases credit online at Supplier site Supplier updates account details and transmits Credit Update message to meter using Comms ID Secure Internet ID

6 Online Purchase (using an online payment service provider) Customer uses supplier specific ID reference to purchase credit online at Supplier site/generic Top-Up site ID Secure Internet ID Payment & Identifier processed by payment infrastructure and passed to Supplier ID Supplier updates account details and transmits Credit Update message to meter using Comms Update to meter could also be done by Payment Service Provider

7 Via Home Display Customer agrees arrangement with Supplier to debit Home Display credit purchases from Bank A/C or a Top-Up balance Local Customer uses Purchase Credit Option on Display Device Message passes from display device to meter using Local Communications, it is then sent to Supplier system via comms. The Supplier system then sends Credit Balance Update instruction to meter. Note: a Supplier could configure a smart meter to accept local Top Up without invoking the communications link to update the meter balance, which could be updated/reconciled with Supplier systems overnight/periodically.

8 Via Phone Customer calls Supplier to add credit to their meter (range of payment options) SMS/GPRS Update option Voice Supplier could handle phone contact with Operators or an automated system Meter updated via communications Note: Customers may need their reference ID no, or their phone number(s) may be associated with their account/ meter automatically within Supplier systems.

9 Via Cash Machine Customer uses supplier specific ID (e.g. top up swipe card) reference to purchase credit at a cash point Payment & Identifier processed by bank (or payment infrastructure) and passed to Supplier. Transmits Credit Update message to meter using Comms ID ID Supplier updates account details Note: As with purchasing credit from a vendor, how the credit update is communicated to the meter can be flexible.

10 Via 3 rd Parties (Digital TV example) Customer uses supplier specific ID (e.g. top up swipe card) reference, or pre-configured account, to purchase credit via a Red Button Digital TV service Payment & Identifier processed by 3 rd Party and passed to Supplier (possibly via Payment Service provider) Supplier updates account details and transmits Credit Update message to meter using Comms ID ID Note: The credit purchase could be collected through the energy bill or the 3 rd party bill.

11 Future Options using Local Comms Hardware Customer uses devices they own (with suitable comms hardware) to purchase credit. This is sent via Local Comms to meter, which confirms transaction with Supplier (or agent) using comms Local Meter updated via communications Note: As with 3 rd party options, the credit purchase could be collected through the energy bill or a 3 rd party bill (mobile phone, digital TV subscription etc.).

12 Manual Update For options reliant upon communications to update the meter, and where these communications have failed, a failsafe should exist to ensure customers can still use energy. Engineer visits to add credit with HHU Local Human Customer instructed to add credit using combination of button presses on meter (via printed receipt or over the phone) Customer completes button push combination using display device Communications Unavailable Note: Following a manual update, the meter would reconcile with billing accounts once communications has been restored

13 Purchase from a Vendor (Printed receipt without Reference ID) Human Code 3. Customer enters code at meter 1. Customer purchases energy credit from a vendor Code 4. Meter transmits code to Supplier via Vendor 2. Vendor issues printed receipt with unique code to customer Code 2. Payment & Code passed to central clearing house Code Code 5. Supplier uses Code to retrieve money from clearing house Code Note: To allow customers to purchase energy without a reference ID, a new centralised role of a payment clearing house would be required.

14 Purchase from a Vendor (Printed receipt) Human 1. Customer purchases energy credit from a vendor using Reference ID Code 3. Customer enters code at meter Code Vendor 2. Vendor issues printed receipt with unique code to customer 4. Payment & Code passed to Supplier by Payment Infrastructure ID ID comms used to reconcile meter/supplier account balances will be an activity that occurs periodically

15 Supplier Choice As a result of removing any central infrastructure to support payments, Suppliers will be able to choose which options they offer to their customers. Supplier A Supplier B Supplier C Purchase from a Vendor Online Purchase Via Home Display Using a Printed Receipt Via Phone Purchase from a Vendor Online Purchase Via Home Display Using a Printed Receipt Via Phone Purchase from a Vendor Online Purchase Via Home Display Using a Printed Receipt Via Phone Via Cash Machine Via Cash Machine Via Cash Machine Via 3 rd Parties Manual Update Via 3 rd Parties Manual Update Via 3 rd Parties Manual Update

16 Supplier Choice Suppliers, as a result of making their own arrangements for payment infrastructure, will be able to differentiate the range of vending outlets they support. Supplier A Supplier B Supplier C Purchase from a Vendor Purchase from a Vendor Purchase from a Vendor Via Cash Machine Via Cash Machine Via 3 rd Parties Via Phone

17 Purchase Using a Supplier Reference ID The majority of examples used in this paper place a requirement on the use of a specific reference ID number issued to the customer by an energy Supplier. This may simply be a number that the customer uses, but Suppliers may choose to offer payment cards or barcode key ring as with other payment and loyalty arrangements. Blue E Supp nergy ly Co. It is assumed that the reference ID would be validated at point of sale to ensure that the account was active. Purchase without a Reference ID An example is included where a customer could purchase energy without a Reference ID. In these instances, a receipt would be issued with a code for the customer to enter at their meter. C TD. PL d O H S rhoo NER bou OR Neigh al Loc UP OP YT G R ENE 0 : 1 ue alue ime: T PM V p T 9 / 5 U e : t Top Up Da 09, p g o 8 T win ch 1 follo eter: e Mar h t art m nter se e your sm a e l P DES e on F77 E cod 8 FD E79 nce fere AB0 r re in this u o y lso se reta rds. is a a o This ber, ple our rec y m r u o n ipt f rece This option would require the creation of a central payment handling body to enable Suppliers to associate purchases with customer accounts. Document Control: Version: v0.2 March 2010 Author: Simon Harrison, Engage Consulting