When SP Electricity North West (SP ENW) recently upgraded the power supply to our own premises, we experienced firsthand the efficiency of modern remote metering solutions and the value of having equipment that is purpose built for the job.
As manufacturers of these specialised panels, we know the difference quality engineering makes, but there is nothing quite like seeing it in action on your own installation.
The Challenge: Aging Meter Installations
Many existing electrical installations, particularly in older properties, face multiple challenges. Original meter cupboards often house numerous individual meters, each measuring different aspects of power consumption and these aging devices can suffer from reduced accuracy over time.
To complicate matters further, original doors may contain hazardous materials like asbestos, making even routine maintenance a safety concern.
Our Solution: Prewired Remote Metering Doors
At Ritherdon, we supply specialised remote metering panels to SP ENW, supporting their ongoing mission to modernise the UK’s power infrastructure. The door is a critical component of the complete metering panel; our prewired design makes installation so much simpler.
Each door arrives fully equipped with a fuse panel, test terminal block and all the necessary cabling, ready for the meter to be fitted directly onto the front. This means engineers turn up on site with everything they need for a straightforward installation, without spending hours wiring components from scratch. We supply the panels and doors; the meters themselves are supplied by the meter operator, which in our case coincides with the energy supplier.
By replacing old doors entirely, these solutions eliminate asbestos risks whilst consolidating multiple outdated meters into a single modern remote reading unit.
The result is improved accuracy, simpler maintenance and real time monitoring without needing site visits.
Developed in Partnership, Used Nationwide
Our range of Code of Practice Remote Metering Panels was developed over many years working closely with SP Electricity North West to meet their exacting specifications.
What began as a specialised solution for one network operator has evolved into a product range that is now sold to electrical contractors and used throughout the UK. This evolution reflects the quality and practicality of the design. When something works well, word spreads.
Read further on how we developed the CT Chamber with UKPN.
The Value of Standardisation
Whilst we love a custom solution as much as the next manufacturer, we have learned that it is not always the most practical approach. Every bespoke panel requires unique design work, specialised manufacturing and additional lead time. By taking the lessons learned from years of custom work and developing standardised solutions, we can offer better value, faster turnaround times and proven reliability.
Our standard COP Panels and CT Chambers represent the best of both worlds: they are built to exacting specifications developed through real world experience, yet they are readily available and cost effective. When a standard solution fits the bill, everyone benefits.
Explore our Power Supply Enclosures designed to house metering solutions outdoors for new connections and upgrades.
Comprehensive Code of Practice Compliance
We manufacture a full range of panels built to industry Code of Practice specifications:
COP2 HV Remote Metering Panels are designed for high voltage sites (10MW to 100MW), featuring dual metering fitted on the door, prewired and ready for meter installation with integrated test terminal blocks.
COP3 HV Remote Metering Panels serve sites between 1MW and 10MW with dual metering on the lid or door, similarly prewired and ready to commission.
COP5 HV & LV Remote Metering Panels are ideal for 100kW to 1MW installations, offering single meter configurations with the same prewired convenience.
Regional CT Chamber Solutions
We also manufacture CT chambers to specific Distribution Network Operator requirements:
Our UKPN CT Chambers are prewired, DNO approved and available for 200A, 400A and 600A 0.5 s CTs.
For SP ENW, we produce MOD156 CT Chambers in modular configurations (MOD1, MOD5, MOD6), built precisely to their specification and available for 400A 0.5 s CTs.
When Custom Solutions Are Needed
That said, standardisation will not solve everything. One of the most significant hurdles in upgrade projects is dealing with nonstandard installations. No two older buildings are quite alike, and meter cupboards often come in unusual dimensions that do not accommodate off the shelf solutions.
When these situations arise, we have developed particular expertise in manufacturing custom sized panels to fit these awkward installations, saving SP ENW considerable time on site and making complex retrofits remarkably straightforward.
It is about knowing when to use a proven standard solution and when a custom approach is genuinely necessary.
Innovation in Progress: Next Generation Enclosures
We are not stopping at doors and panels. Currently in development is a complete enclosure unit designed to replace entire old meter housings. This new unit will sit directly on top of the cutout, the service head where incoming cables enter the property, creating a clean, integrated solution that eliminates clutter and further simplifies installation work for engineers.
Having experienced the upgrade process ourselves, we understand the value these solutions bring.
By continuing to innovate and customise our products where needed, whilst offering reliable standardised solutions where possible, we are helping ensure that essential infrastructure upgrades proceed smoothly, safely and efficiently across the network.
