Smart metering ...Smart people ...Smart approach.

With over 15 years experience operating at the heart of the gas industry, Smart Metering Systems provides the UK’s leading gas suppliers and large corporate customers with a comprehensive package of solutions encompassing all aspects of the gas connections and smart metering markets through its subsidiary companies:
•UK Gas Connection
•UK Meter Assets
•UK Data Management

Smart Metering Systems services include:
•Installation, disconnection or relocation of gas infrastructure
•Installation of domestic, commercial or industrial gas metering equipment
•Third party meter asset management utilising "Rainbow" compliant systems and either the IX or DTN exchanges
•Prepayment meter solutions
•Purchase of existing meter portfolios
•Smart Metering solutions
•Comprehensive gas use analysis through a dedicated web interface

With a company ethos based on offering its clients the highest standards of customer care and a track record of investing in both technology and talented people, Smart Metering Systems works hard to maintain a reputation for delivering the high quality of service that its client’s demand.

http://www.sms-plc.com/Company/About-Us

Market Buzz

Smart Metering Systems chairman buys new shares

Fri, 05 June 2015



Smart Metering Systems chairman buys new shares



The chairman of Smart Metering Systems raised his stake in the company on Friday.
Paul Dollman bought 5,000 shares for an individual price of 340.2p, spending a total of £17,010 in the transaction.

After the purchase, Dollman holds 20,000 shares in the company, which represents 0.02% of its issued share capital.

The chairman said last week the group has made significant progress in 2015 with revenues up 10% to £29m, which was in line with expectations.

"We continue to see the benefits of our expanded service offering across both the gas and electricity sectors and the positive impact of a fully integrated service in these markets for our customers," he said at the time.

Interim Results for six months ended 30 June 2015
RNS
RNS Number : 1680Z
Smart Metering Systems PLC
16 September 2015

Smart Metering Systems plc

("SMS" or "the Company")



Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2015



Smart Metering Systems plc (AIM: SMS.L) is pleased to announce its interim results, which show continued growth for the six months to 30 June 2015.

Financial highlights

· Revenue* increased by 36% to £25.8m (H1 2014: £18.9m)

· Total annualised recurring revenues within asset management increased by 39% to £30.5m (H1 2014: £22.0m)

- Gas: meter recurring rent increased 33% to £25.0m and data recurring income increased to £1.5m

- Electricity: meter recurring rent grew to £0.9m and data recurring income increased to £3.1m

· Gross profit increased by 41% to £17.2m (H1 2014: £12.2m)

· Gross profit margin 67% (H2 2014: 65%)

· Underlying EBITDA** increased by 40% to £12.2m (H1 2014: £8.7m)

· Underlying EBITDA margin 47% (H1 2014: 46%)

· Underlying PBT*** increased by 37% to £8.0m (H1 2014: £5.8m)

· Underlying earnings per share**** increased 72% to 6.90p (H1 2014: 4.02p)

· Interim dividend of 1.1p per ordinary share, an increase of 17%

· Net debt of £69.9m with net debt to EBITDA at 2.9x

· Available cash and unutilised debt facility of £35.1m at 30 June 2015

· Capital expenditure on meters rose by 37% to £21.2m



*
Additional revenue streams incorporated in 2014 resulting from the acquisition of Utility Partnership Limited (UPL).

**
Underlying EBITDA is before exceptional items.

***
Underlying PBT is before exceptional items and intangible amortisation.

****
Underlying earnings per share is profit after taxation but before exceptional items and intangible amortisation, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue.




Operational highlights

· Total gas meter portfolio increased by 9% to 661,000 (December 2014: 607,000), with industrial and commercial ("I&C") meters increasing by 37% to 89,000 (December 2014: 65,000). Gas data portfolio increased by 51% to 62,000 (December 2014: 41,000)

· Electricity meters increased by 64% to 19,700 (December 2014: 12,000). Electricity data portfolio increased by 8% to 116,643 (December 2014: 107,990)

· ADM™ installations grew 42.8% to 59,000 units by 30 June 2015 (December 2014: 41,000)

· In June 2015, the Company celebrated 20 years in operation and the first anniversary of the integration of the electricity business, following the acquisition of Utility Partnership Limited ("UPL") in April 2014

· Completed rebranding of the business, bringing all group subsidiaries under the single SMS brand, setting out a simplified integrated gas and electricity offering to clients



Alan Foy, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"We are delighted that our integrated business service model and core strategy of growing our meter asset base and data services with an emphasis on recurring income, has resulted in further financial and operational growth over the first six months of the year.



SMS is continuing to install gas and electricity meter assets generating additional recurring income from our contracts in the industrial and commercial markets. Following the UPL acquisition, we are already seeing the benefits of cross-selling of our suite of metering, data management, utility connection and energy management services across both gas and electricity markets.



We are well positioned to participate in the UK's upcoming domestic smart meter exchange programme which, we believe, will provide similar asset ownership and recurring income opportunities."

Domestic smart meter contract win First Utility

RNS


RNS Number : 7550B

Smart Metering Systems PLC

21 June 2016






21 June 2016

Smart Metering Systems plc



("SMS" or "the Company")



New domestic smart meter contract win with largest independent UK energy supplier



Contract with First Utility Limited



Smart Metering Systems plc (AIM: SMS.L), the integrated metering services company that connects, owns, operates and maintains over one million current generation smart meter and data assets in the UK, is pleased to announce that it has signed a framework agreement with First Utility Limited ("First Utility"), the largest independent UK-based energy supplier serving electricity, gas and dual fuel customers, as its preferred domestic smart meter asset provider.



Under the terms of the non-exclusive agreement, SMS will provide domestic smart meters to First Utility customers as part of the UK Government programme, overseen by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, requiring domestic energy supply companies to provide all of their customers with a smart meter in homes and small businesses across the UK by 2020.



First Utility currently supply energy to circa one million homes in the UK. Under the terms of the agreement, SMS will, over the next 18 months, gain ownership of up to 150,000 domestic dual fuel smart meters. The meters will be funded by SMS, supported by its revolving credit facility.



To date, suppliers with whom SMS has contracted for the domestic smart rollout currently provide services to 1,549,000 homes in the UK market.



Phil Gripton, Chief Operating Officer of First Utility, said:



"We are pleased to establish our partnership with SMS as part of our commitment to the Smart metering programme. We are confident that working hand in hand with SMS will support First Utility's ambitions in the next phase of our Smart meter rollout. SMS bring a wealth of knowledge and experience which we believe will support the successful deployment of this technology into our customers' homes."



Alan Foy, Chief Executive Officer of SMS, commented:



"We are delighted to be working with First Utility, the largest independent energy supplier in the UK in the rollout of their smart meter programme between now and the end of 2020. SMS is well positioned for this new market with a strong track record for customer services and asset ownership and management. This is exemplified by the recent acquisitions of Trojan Ltd and CH4 Ltd who have installed over 400,000 domestic smart meters to date for energy suppliers, and Qton Ltd whose market leading meter field force installation and management software services has overseen over one million meter installs so far."

12 Jul Panmure Gordon 565.00 Buy

Interim results


Financial highlights
•              Revenue increased by 25% to £32.3m (H1 2015: £25.8m)
•              Total annualised recurring income* increased by 23% to £37.4m (H1 2015: £30.5m)
•              Underlying EBITDA** increased by 20% to £14.7m (H1 2015: £12.2m)
•              Underlying EBITDA** margin at 45% (H1 2015: 47%)
•              Underlying PBT*** increased by 15% to £9.2m (H1 2015: £8.0m)
•              Underlying earnings per share **** increased by 23% to 8.45p (H1 2015: 6.90p)
•              Interim dividend of 1.37p per ordinary share, an increase of 25%
 
*                 Recurring revenue refers to revenue generated by meter rental and data contracts. Annualised recurring income refers to the revenue being generated at a point in time.
**              Underlying EBITDA is before exceptional items and other operating income.
***            Underlying PBT is before exceptional items, other operating income and intangible amortisation.
****         Underlying earnings per share is profit after taxation but before exceptional items, other operating income and intangible amortisation, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue.
 
Operational highlights
•              Completed the acquisition of CH4 Gas Utility and Maintenance Services Limited (CH4), Trojan Utilities Limited (Trojan), and Qton Solutions Limited (Qton), further strengthening the Group ahead of the UK's domestic smart meter rollout programme with full UK-wide direct installation and IT support capability
•              The Group has an initial order book of 300,000 dual fuel domestic smart meters from eight contracted energy suppliers who currently supply energy to circa 2 million homes
•              The Group now manages over 1 million utility metering and data assets on behalf of energy suppliers in the industrial and commercial (I&C) and domestic markets and has increased its asset base in all business areas

20 Sep
Panmure Gordon
650.00
Buy
20 Sep
Peel Hunt
N/A
Buy

10 stocks for a truly all weather portfolio

4 Jan
Macquarie
892.00
Outperform

Ramper :-)

Sour grapes. :-))

Post-Close Trading Update

RNS


RNS Number : 9314V

Smart Metering Systems PLC

03 February 2017








Smart Metering Systems plc

("SMS" or "the Company")



Post-Close Trading Update



Smart Metering Systems plc (AIM: SMS.L), the integrated metering services company that installs, owns and manages utility metering assets, is pleased to provide the following update on trading in the year ended 31 December 2016.



The Company's continued investment in its gas and electricity metering portfolio saw the total number of assets under management increase by approximately 28% to 1.25m by 31 December 2016. This figure includes 51,000 gas and electricity domestic smart meters installed towards the end of 2016, in the new domestic smart meter market.



During 2016, SMS signed contracts for the installation and ownership of gas and electricity domestic smart meters with 8 energy suppliers who currently supply c. 2.5m consumers.



Total annualised recurring income increased by 20% to £41.3m as at 31 December 2016. In the Gas division, meter recurring rent grew by 13% to £31.48m, while data recurring income increased 17% to £2.58m. In the Electricity division, meter recurring rent more than doubled to £2.91m and data recurring income grew 26% to £4.33m.



Based on unaudited management accounts for the period, SMS expects that its results for the year to 31 December 2016 will be in line with current market expectations and these will be published late March 2017.



Alan Foy, Chief Executive Officer, commented:



"2016 has been a transformational year for SMS with the evolution of our business model into a fully integrated service provider, in line with the requirements of our customers. The success of this strategy has been evidenced by our continued delivery of year-on-year double digit growth on all our key metrics.



The domestic smart meter market continues to move apace and we have signed contracts with some of the fastest growing energy suppliers in the UK. "

11:50 15/02/2017
Broker Forecast - Panmure Gordon issues a broker note on Smart Metering Systems
Panmure Gordon today reaffirms its buy investment rating on Smart Metering Systems (LON:SMS) and raised its price target to 868p (from 650p). Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

Final results for the year ended 31 December 2016
RNS
RNS Number : 0128A
Smart Metering Systems PLC
21 March 2017
 
Smart Metering Systems plc
("SMS" or "the Company" or "the Group")
 
Final results for the year ended 31 December 2016
 
Smart Metering Systems plc (AIM: SMS.L) is pleased to announce its final results for the 12 months to 31 December 2016, which show continued growth across all business areas.
 
Financial Highlights
·      Revenue increased by 25% to £67.2m (2015: £53.9m) 
·      Total annualised recurring income* increased by 19% to £41.3m (2015: £34.7m) 
o  Gas: meter recurring rent increased by 13% to £31.5m (2015: £27.8m) and data recurring income increased by 17% to £2.6m (2015: £2.2m)
o  Electricity: meter recurring rent increased by 125% to £2.9m (2015: £1.3m) and data recurring income grew 23% to £4.3m (2015: £3.5m)
·      Gross profit increased by 23% to £36.9m (2015: £30.1m) 
·      Gross profit margin remained consistent at 55% (2015: 56%) 
·      EBITDA increased by 17% to £32.5m (2015:£27.9m)
·      Underlying EBITDA** increased by 21% to £31.9m (2015: £26.3m)
·      Underlying EBITDA** margin at 48% (2015: 49%) 
·      PBT increased by 4% to £18.2m (2015:17.5m)
·      Underlying PBT** increased by 13% to £19.6m (2015: £17.4m) 
·      Earnings per share decreased to 17.33p (2015: 17.46p)
·      Underlying earnings per share*** increased to 19.20p (2015: 17.38p) 
·      Final dividend of 2.73p per ordinary share totalling 4.1p for the full year (2015: 3.3p), an increase of 24%
* Recurring revenue refers to revenue generated by meter rental and data contracts. Annualised recurring income refers to the revenue being generated at a point in time.
** Underlying PBT and EBITDA are before exceptional items, intangible amortisation and other operating income.
*** Underlying earnings per share is profit after taxation but before exceptional items, other operating income and intangible amortisation, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue.
Operational Highlights
 
·      Total gas and electricity metering and data assets increased by 272,000 to just over 1.25 million under management at 31 December 2016 (2015: 979,000)
o  Total gas meter portfolio increased by 22% to 881,000 (2015: 723,000), with industrial and commercial (I&C) meters increasing by 25% to 143,000 (2015: 114,000). Gas data portfolio increased by 27% to 108,000 (2015: 85,000) 
o  Total electricity meter portfolio increased by 166% to 77,000 (2015: 29,000). Electricity data portfolio increased by 31% to 186,000 (2015: 142,000) 
·      ADM™ installations up 23% to 91,000 units at 31 December 2016 (2015: 74,000) with international trials continuing
·      Capital expenditure on meters was £42.5m (2015: £41.1m), reaching a monthly run rate of approximately £4.0m in December 2016
·      Completed the acquisitions of CH4 Gas Utility and Maintenance Service Limited (CH4), Trojan Utilities Limited (Trojan) and Qton Solutions Limited (Qton), to further strengthen the Group ahead of the UK's domestic smart meter rollout programme with the full UK-wide direct installation and IT support capacity
 
Change to Chief Financial Officer
 
Smart Metering Systems is also pleased to announce the appointment of David Harris as Chief Financial Officer of the Company with immediate effect. David replaces Glen Murray who served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company since 2011. Please see our separate announcement for further details.
 
Alan Foy, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
 
"2016 has been a year of transformation for the business as it grew to over 1.25 million utility metering and data assets under management generating £41.3m in annually recurring index-linked income. The strong financial position has supported three strategic acquisitions, which has delivered a scalable delivery platform with the opportunity to install and own new domestic smart utility meters (gas and electricity) mandated to be installed in every home in the UK over the next four to five years.
 
We have seen a strong start to 2017 and are well positioned to continue making progress in our core markets.  We will continue to invest in meter and data assets and grow our recurring revenue base across both the I&C and Smart Domestic market segments. We have built the foundations to allow us to capitalise on future opportunities."
 

21 Mar
Panmure Gordon
868.00
Buy
21 Mar
Peel Hunt
740.00
Buy

(ShareCast News) - Smart Metering Systems shares were a 'buy' in the Sunday Times' Inside the City column. As part of a £11bn plan, the UK government aims for 53m smart meters - which are electronically linked to your electricity and gas supplier to allow you to monitor and control in near-real time how much energy you use - be fitted in every home and small businesses by December 2020. AIM-listed SMS, which has contracts to instal 2.5m of that total, is only listed company of the four that own and instal smart meters.
Broker Panmure Gordon calculate SMS could target a market of roughly 22m homes, with water meters another way of expanding its customer base. Risks for the company include the government delaying its 2020 deadline. Along with other 'internet of things' devices, smart meters have been seen as potentially vulnerable to hacking or errors such as households being £30,000-plus false readings. But while there may be bumps away, smart meters are here to stay.

09:50 10/04/2017
Broker Forecast - Macquarie issues a broker note on Smart Metering Systems
Macquarie today reaffirms its outperform investment rating on Smart Metering Systems (LON:SMS) and raised its price target to 1068p (from 892p). Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

interims Tues 12 Sept

fyi


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/six-reasons-say-no-smart-meter/



https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/understand-smart-prepayment-and-other-energy-meters/smart-meters-your-rights

Interim results

Results of placing