We are pleased to announce today the launch of G3 Certification Version 8, a landmark release that extends the proven G3-Hybrid network to battery-powered, low-power devices. For the first time, utilities can integrate gas meters, water meters, customer interface units (CIUs), sensors, and other RF-only field devices directly into the same G3-Hybrid infrastructure that currently connects more than 100 million electricity meters across over 30 countries.
One Network for Multi-Utility Metering
Until now, utilities deploying gas or water metering alongside electricity metering typically relied on separate communication networks, third-party systems, or gateway-based integration. This inevitably increased operational complexity, costs, and vendor dependency.
Certification V8 changes this completely. Battery-powered leaf nodes operate in RF-only mode with ultra-low power consumption and deep-sleep capability, connecting to the existing G3-Hybrid network via any G3-Hybrid device with parenting capability.
The result is a unified communication infrastructure for electricity, gas, and water metering, featuring:
A single, centralised set of authentications, addressing, and security mechanisms.
Seamless, end-to-end IPv6 connectivity.
A design specification targeting battery lifetimes of up to 20 years, making it a true ‘fit-and-forget’ solution.
The Bottom Line: No gateways, no separate networks, and no extra operational overhead.
New RF-BAT Certification Profile
The new ‘RF-BAT’ (Battery-Powered RF) certification profile extends the G3 certification programme with dedicated conformance, interoperability, and performance test cases specifically designed for battery-powered devices. This profile complements the existing G3-Hybrid certification ecosystem while preserving full backward compatibility with already deployed infrastructure.
Key features of G3 battery-powered devices include:
Extended deep-sleep cycles to enable ultra-low-power operation.
A 20-year target battery lifetime (based on CR 3V/2000mAh).
Configurable wake-up times and sleep cycles to support various use cases and optimise battery longevity trade-offs.
Fixed channel and frequency hopping operation for global adoption.
Fully interoperable authentication and addressing with existing G3-PLC and G3-Hybrid devices.
Multi-device parenting, allowing G3-Hybrid devices to parent multiple battery-powered leaf nodes.
Point-to-point communication, establishing a dedicated unicast route between parent and leaf for reliable bi-directional communication.
Beyond Metering: Smart Grid and IoT Applications
The same architecture that enables multi-utility metering opens the door to a broader range of smart grid and IoT use cases:
Customer Interface Units (CIUs): Prepayment and customer interaction displays can reuse the RF connectivity already available in deployed smart meters, drastically reducing deployment costs.
Field Sensors: Other RF-only field devices integrate naturally into the existing G3-Hybrid network without requiring additional infrastructure.
This positions G3-Hybrid as a future-proof, converged network platform capable of supporting the full breadth of smart grid and IoT connectivity needs—at scale, with certified interoperability, and without vendor lock-in.
Next Steps
Visit our website to read more about G3-Hybrid for Multi-Utility Metering and beyond.
Members are invited to contact our accredited test laboratories to schedule the testing of their devices under Certification Version 8. Full details regarding the G3 certification process are available to members on our website.
