Cromac Wood Court a prestigious new build social housing project in the Markets area of Belfast City has installed the latest in advanced energy metering systems. The advanced metering system provides tenants with exceptional information and service, that helps them manage as well as reduce their energy costs, whilst also improving their overall comfort level.

BIH (Belfast Improved Housing) provides housing tenants with PRI (Polymeter Response International) meters that show real time energy information in a simple form, giving tenants greater control over their energy costs.
Cromac Wood Court is an excellent example of the high quality accommodation offered by BIH, in a modern and recently completed scheme of 36 one and two bedroom rented units.

In line with BIH's stated policy of offering the highest quality services to its customers, BIH requested. NIE (Northern Ireland Electricity) to provided an electricity budgeting system in the form of PRI's Liberty Keypad based metering, thus promoting social inclusion and customer empowerment whilst maintaining levels of comfort and convenience.

Andrea Murtagh the Scheme Coordinator at Cromac Wood Court who has several years experience in Housing Unit Management, had no hesitation in recommending the Keypad System commenting "I am aware of the importance of budgeting on a weekly basis to those on a low income, the Keypad system allows people not only to effectively budget but also to reduce their consumption of electricity and avoid going into debt.

Several of the new tenants, like Rosemary Mulligan had Liberty Keypad in their previous accommodation. Rosemary commented "I like the Keypad very much if it had not been fitted in Cromac Wood I would have requested it be fitted for me, I read the displays and can calculate how much I need to purchase each week and do not have to worry about big electricity bills.

Gerry Cunningham moved into his apartment in February 2004 and commented "It is an easy system to use, I know how much I use in the winter weeks compared to the summer weeks which helps me put money aside for other bills I check the amount in the meter regularly I like to be in credit.

Such is the success of Liberty Keypad in Cromac Wood Court that Paul Hellen from Building Service Design,  who installed the system, stated  "It will be our normal practice to design and install Keypad Pre-payment meters in all projects of this type.

Additional Notes:

BIH constructs and manages a range of housing accommodation providing housing for families, single people, the elderly and various models of supported housing for people with special needs. Schemes are located throughout Northern Ireland.
The Association is a registered non-profit making Housing Association and is recognised by the Inland Revenue as having charitable status. On an annual basis the Association develops new accommodation for rental, as well as undertaking the re-improvement and maintenance of existing stock.
PRI has supplied more than 150,000 Liberty keypad meters to Northern Ireland Electricity and has helped reduce customer debt and energy consumption. BIH is the first association to elect to use Keypad meters from a design consideration greatly improving the installation and deployment of the equipment in the process.

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