'Smart meters' get £10m trial
Thursday, 12 Jul 2007 10:33
No more meter readers under the new system
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The government has announced a two-year trial of 'smart meters' it hopes will help consumers monitor – and lower - their energy consumption.
Roughly 40,000 households will take part in the energy-saving trial, the £20 million cost of which is being shared between the government and the four major energy companies involved.
EDF Energy, E.ON UK, Scottish and Southern Energy, and Scottish Power will provide customers with the smart meters, which will give them better access to information about their energy costs.
They will be able to view advice on how to cut their emissions on the internet and their television as well as on the meter itself, which will also provide a breakdown of energy use for consumption at different times of the day.
Business and enterprise secretary John Hutton said: "Changing consumer habits is vital if we are to cut our energy use and reduce the impact of climate change.
"Smart meters provide the cutting edge technology to enable this to happen. The results of the trials will provide invaluable evidence to support the future rollout of displays and smart meters; helping to cut consumer bills and cut our carbon emissions."
The government expects to roll out the smart meters from next year, when all new installations will contain the new technology.
By 2020 the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform hopes they will save 300,000 tonnes of carbon each year.