Surprise – A river runs through it!
Smart meters ‘won’t cut energy use’
GOVERNMENT plans to roll out energy meters to all UK households will have little impact on energy efficiency levels, it has been claimed.
Which? magazine warns that while smart meters will help calculate more accurate bills, they will not provide the information people need to manage their energy usage and cut their costs.
The UK Government is hoping to install smart meters in every home by 2020 in a bid to slash carbon dioxide emissions across the country, but Which? believes households need portable meters as well so they can see how much energy they’re using.
The Onzo group has designed its own energy display meter and chief executive Joel Hagan said: “We’ve told the Government that on their own smart meters do not provide any more information to consumers, or incentive to change their behaviour, than the present generation of meters.
“Only if people have a wireless energy monitor, which provides them with this information in a simple way, will they understand their energy use and reduce their consumption.”
Smart meters allow suppliers to remotely record customers’ gas and electricity use, and let consumers see how much energy they are using.
Some 26 million electricity and 22 million gas meters will need to be fitted at a cost of £7 billion.
Smart meters end the need to dispatch meter readers. It is also hoped smart meters will mean an end to estimated bills and call centre staff who deal with related complaints.
Share
