There are TV adverts and lots of talk but what exactly is a smart meter?  LPG decided to take a closer look.  The government has given the gas and electricity companies the task of offering one to every British household. More than 3.5 million smart meters have already been installed and by 2020 everyone in England, Scotland and Wales will have been offered one, meaning everyone will be able to benefit from greater visibility and control over household energy.

These meters show exactly how much gas and electricity is used at any time, and the display includes how much money has been spent.  It is said that having one allows you to see exactly how much it costs while you use the Hoover, boil the kettle, iron a shirt etc. and bills often get a little smaller as a result.   The usage information the meters provide is updated every half hour for gas while electricity readings are much more immediate, but the biggest change is that your energy service provider will also be sent those readings electronically without ever having to visit you again.  These devises will eliminate the need for estimated bills and customers who pre-pay will no longer have to visit a shop to obtain credit.  Automatic top-up will also be an option for them. 

The information the meters produce will make switching energy providers easier but, at the moment, each utility company has their own version of the technology which has the disadvantage that switching energy providers will probably mean having to install a different meter; the government are working on standardising them.

The government has set out a code of practice to protect consumers.  The data collected from the meters will be used for billing purposes and, with the consumer’s permission, could be used to help them become more energy efficient.

Smart meter users will still be able to have paper bills, and no one will be forced to have one installed.  So the only down side will be the meter-reader’s jobs that will be lost.

For more information contact Smart Energy GB, tel - 0203 019 1000.