Name

Smart DCC

Legal name

Smart DCC Ltd

Website

https://smartdcc.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Smart Meter Communications Infrastructure

NAICS

Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Natural Gas Distribution (22121), Electric Power Distribution (221122)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

AMI/AMR Smart Meter Deployment & Operations (Head-End, Network & MDM) (EUAJACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Smart Grid Communications Networks (RF Mesh, PLC, Fiber, Cellular) (EUAEANAB), Meter-to-Cash / Billing & CIS Integration for AMI (EUADAFAM)

Keywords

• Smart meter networks
• Utility communications infrastructure
• Energy data communications
• Smart metering services
• Central switching service

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Smart Meter Communications Services: DCC operates under a regulated license from Ofgem and DESNZ, providing data and communications network services to energy suppliers. The company charges for access to its network infrastructure and services. Revenue is regulated under the Smart Meter Communications Licence with Price Control mechanisms overseen by Ofgem.
2. Switching Services: Services for managing switching requests between energy suppliers, including the Central Switching Service (CSS), Switching Service Management System, Switching Systems Integration, and Switching Systems Assurance.
3. Network Products & Services: Additional services including Communications Hub provision, DCC Boxed, Elective Communications Services, Parse and Correlate, Testing Services, and Technical Operations Centre services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Smart DCC operates Britain's licensed, secure smart meter communications network, connecting more than 26.5 million smart electricity and gas meters to energy suppliers via a dedicated wide area network that is fully separate from the public internet and protected by two layers of encryption. It provides Communications Hubs, a Central Switching Service for energy supplier switching, a 24/7 Technical Operations Centre, data processing (Parse and Correlate), testing services, and migration programmes such as SMETS1 enrolment and Enduring Change of Supplier, serving energy suppliers, distribution network operators, and authorised service users under regulation by Ofgem.

Product overview

Smart DCC operates as the Data Communications Company, building and managing Britain's secure smart meter network. The core offering is the Smart Meter Infrastructure Platform connecting millions of smart electricity and gas meters to energy suppliers. Key products include Communications Hubs (Single Band and Dual Band variants), the Central Switching Service (CSS), Technical Operations Centre (24/7 monitoring), Parse and Correlate data services, Testing Services, and DCC Boxed access. Current programmes include SMETS1 meter migration, Dual Band Communications Hub rollout, Enduring Change of Supplier (ECoS), and Market-Wide Half-Hourly Settlement. Innovation initiatives cover Electric Vehicle Smart Charging, Internet of Energy Things, and Demand Flexibility Service. The network supports almost 150 message types including prepayment, installation, change of supplier, meter reads, and firmware updates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Communications Hub Hardware device that connects smart electricity and gas meters to the DCC wide area network, creating a Home Area Network to exchange data between meters, in-home displays, and supplier systems. Used by energy suppliers and available in Single Band and Dual Band variants.
• Central Switching Service (CSS) Service that processes consumer requests to switch energy suppliers, transferring data, payment details, and account information between suppliers within five working days (moving toward 24 hours), supporting CSS, Switching Service Management System, Systems Integration, and Systems Assurance.
• Technical Operations Centre 24/7 monitoring service providing performance, resilience, speed, and security oversight of the smart meter network for energy suppliers and authorised users.
• DCC Boxed Packaged offering providing access to DCC network capabilities and services for authorised users who need a bundled set of smart meter network functions.
• Elective Communications Services Optional communications services that extend DCC network capabilities beyond core smart metering functions for energy suppliers and authorised users.
• Parse and Correlate Data processing service that parses and correlates smart meter messages to deliver usable information to energy suppliers and authorised users.
• Testing Services Test lab services allowing suppliers, device manufacturers, and innovators to test smart meter products against the DCC network, reducing R&D costs.
• Smart Metering Devices and Technology Support Technical support services for smart metering devices and related technology operating on the DCC network, provided to suppliers and device manufacturers.
• SMETS1 Enrolment and Adoption Migration programme that enrols first-generation (SMETS1) smart meters onto the DCC network, restoring full smart functionality including automated readings and seamless supplier switching.
• Dual Band Communications Hub (DBCH) Advanced variant of the Communications Hub using both 868MHz and 2.4GHz frequencies to extend Home Area Network coverage to 96.5% of premises and resolve connectivity issues in difficult building types.
• Enduring Change of Supplier (ECoS) Programme replacing security certificates on smart meter devices to enable secure energy supplier switching with enhanced security, replacing the original Transitional Change of Supplier process.

Quantifiable outcome

• Smart meters save approximately 1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, supporting and core.

• Open Data Institute (ODI)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaboration on Data for Good programme to explore how smart meter system data can be used for public benefit, including net zero, fuel poverty, and flexible energy system initiatives.
• Urban TidesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Led consortium bid for Modernising Energy Data Applications (MEDA) competition, bringing together fuel poverty domain experts, energy sector practitioners, and data scientists for uSmart:Zero project.
• Connected Places CatapultstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019UK's innovation accelerator partnered with DCC to map data inventory and explore use cases for smart meter system data, including fuel poverty identification. Partnership funded in part by Innovate UK.
• Landmark Information Group LimitedcoreTechnology or IntegrationKey service provider for the Central Switching Service (CSS), providing technology solutions for managing switching requests.
• Cap Gemini UK plccoreTechnology or IntegrationKey service provider for the Switching Service Management System (SO), providing systems integration and support services.
• Netcompany UK LimitedcoreTechnology or IntegrationKey service provider for Switching Systems Integration Service (SI), enabling switching requests from consumers through systems integration.
• Bob's BusinesssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCybersecurity training partner working with DCC to embed cyber-awareness and data privacy into company culture through distinctive, creative storytelling techniques.
• National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCSC (part of GCHQ) worked with DCC to design the smart meter network with security at its core. The network operates to security standards endorsed by NCSC.
• Energy Systems CatapultsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided convening support and market engagement expertise for DCC's data discovery project exploring smart meter system data use cases.
• Smart Energy Code Administrator and Secretariat (SECAS)coreOthersSECAS administers the Smart Energy Code, which DCC must comply with under its licence. The SEC Panel provides governance oversight including approval for programmes like ECoS.
• REC Code ManagercoreOthersManages the Retail Energy Code, which DCC must comply with for switching services. The REC Performance Assurer provides assurance on DCC's switching service delivery.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Silver Spring Networks (Itron): Now part of Itron, Silver Spring Networks pioneered IPv6-based smart grid and AMI communications networks for utilities. Comparable to Smart DCC's secure, IP-style wide-area smart meter communications architecture.
• Aclara (Hubbell): Supplies AMI/AMR solutions, communications networks, and meter data management to electric, gas, and water utilities. Comparable product line and customer base to Smart DCC's AMI infrastructure offerings.
• Landis+Gyr: Major global smart metering and grid intelligence vendor offering AMI head-end systems, communications networks, and MDM software. Comparable to Smart DCC as a technology and network operator for smart meter communications, although multi-tenant rather than a single-licensed operator.
• EDMI (Oaktree portfolio): Designs and manufactures smart electricity and gas meters plus AMI solutions for utilities worldwide. Comparable in providing the meter-side communications stack that pairs with head-end network infrastructure such as Smart DCC's.
• Trilliant: Provider of AMI communications networks and smart grid platform solutions for utilities globally. Comparable as an AMI head-end and network operator serving regulated electric and gas utilities.
• Itron: Global provider of AMI/AMR smart metering networks, communications infrastructure, and meter data management for utilities. Operates in the same core category as Smart DCC — operating secure smart meter communications networks — though as a vendor to multiple utility clients rather than as a regulated monopoly operator.
• Sensus (Xylem): Provider of smart meters, AMI networks (FlexNet), and utility communications infrastructure serving electric, gas, and water utilities. Direct comparable in deploying large-scale secure metering communications networks for regulated utilities.
• Kamstrup: European supplier of smart metering solutions including electricity, heat, water, and gas meters plus AMI communications infrastructure. Comparable as a smart metering communications network provider in regulated utility contexts.

Broad incumbents

• National Grid: UK electricity and gas transmission system operator that uses Smart DCC's network as an authorised user for grid management. Relevant as a downstream consumer of DCC data and as a broader UK energy infrastructure incumbent interacting with DCC's services.

Emerging players

• CyanConnode: UK-headquartered provider of narrowband RF mesh AMI communications solutions for utilities. Comparable in AMI networking technology focus but materially smaller and operating in adjacent emerging-market geographies rather than the UK monopoly position Smart DCC holds.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smartdcc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smart-dcc-ltd

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smart DCC