A utility mesh network comprising a plurality of end points, each of the end points being communicatively coupled to at least one other end point in the utility mesh network so as to transmit data to, and/or receive data from other end point to which the end point is coupled and re-transmit that data towards a collector and/or a network management apparatus, comprising: i) a processing apparatus that manages data processing tasks for the end point; ii) a communications apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus, the communications apparatus being configured to transmit and receive data over the network; iii) a metrology apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus, the metrology apparatus being configured to measure and provide meter data that includes at least a measure of utilized utility services; iv) a network apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus, the network apparatus being configured to coordinate communication between devices that belong to a home area network; characterised in that each of the end points further comprises: v) a utility identification module interface coupled to the processing apparatus, vi) a utility identification module (116, 202) comprising at least one processor and a data store that securely stores configuration data that configures the processing apparatus to communicate with the communications apparatus, the metrology apparatus, and the network apparatus required for an endpoint to communicate over the utility mesh network using routing data that specifies one or more network devices that belong to the same mesh network as the endpoint and to facilitate communications between the devices that belong to the home area network, wherein the utility identification module interface is configured to removably receive the utility identification module (116, 202) so as to enable the utility identification module to transfer configuration data from a particular endpoint to a newly installed endpoint and thereby, facilitating an end point to be exchanged with another end point within the utility mesh network. i) a processing apparatus that manages data processing tasks for the end point; ii) a communications apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus, the communications apparatus being configured to transmit and receive data over the network; iii) a metrology apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus, the metrology apparatus being configured to measure and provide meter data that includes at least a measure of utilized utility services; iv) a network apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus, the network apparatus being configured to coordinate communication between devices that belong to a home area network; v) a utility identification module interface coupled to the processing apparatus, vi) a utility identification module (116, 202) comprising at least one processor and a data store that securely stores configuration data that configures the processing apparatus to communicate with the communications apparatus, the metrology apparatus, and the network apparatus required for an endpoint to communicate over the utility mesh network using routing data that specifies one or more network devices that belong to the same mesh network as the endpoint and to facilitate communications between the devices that belong to the home area network,