CTF (Communications Technically Feasible) is a check that ESB Networks will perform daily on each meter installation to establish the reliability of communications from the Smart Meter to the respective AMI Systems across the telecommunications network.
CTF will be used by ESB Networks to determine the method for reading and managing the meter (remote or manual), including the operation of the Remote Switch.
ESB Networks expects approx. > 95% population coverage for the advanced meter infrastructure.
ESB Networks expects coverage to fluctuate for a small number of meter locations due to a variety of reasons including but not limited to local propagation issues, atmospheric conditions, tree coverage, radio access network failure, changes in network topology, communications interference sources, customer actions etc.
Reading of Smart Meters where communications cannot be established (CTF = 01) the meter registers will be manually read as is the current practice.
Where communications can be established (CTF = 02 / 03 / 04) the meter will transmit its associated data packages to ESB Networks each night, where possible.
On occasions where the Smart Meter cannot be read, estimates will be provided. For Smart Meters configured to MCC12 (HH Interval Smart Data Services), estimated data provided to the Supplier will be replaced with actuals where possible when communications with the meter are re-established.
For Smart Meters that are configured to MCC16 (Non-Interval Smart Data Services), estimates provided to the Supplier will not be replaced. Manual collection of HH Interval Data will not be provided by ESB Networks.