The UK Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) may be opening the door to the use of polluting PLC technology for smart meters.

The DECC is requesting suggestions for alternatives to wireless links and they say "Energy UK are conducting a series of tests in multi-dwelling buildings to characterise the performance of their electricity networks with respect to carrying Power Line Communication (PLC) signals."

While the announcement says "respondents are not in any way limited to proposing technologies based on PLC" they may well be fears that purveyors of polluting PLC technology, renown for ruining people's enjoyment of radio, will use this opportunity to sneak in.

If you wish to reply to this Information Request, DECC would like to receive your response no later than 15 April 2013. Please respond via email to smartmetering@decc.gsi.gov.uk

Read the information request (PDF) - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/136105/Wired_HAN_Information_Request.pdf

DCC Policy Paper announcement - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/availability-of-technologies-for-provisioning-home-area-network-han-connectivity-to-electricity-and-gas-metering-equipment-communications-hub-and-in-home-devices-in-cases-where-a-2-4ghz-zigbee-wireless-han-will-not-work-effectively

Smart Meters RF Survey report which covers the use of 433 MHz - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/136124/smart-meters-rf-surveys-final-report.pdf