Customers on the new iSaveV2 tariff will be offered the option to get a free smart meter installed in the coming months as first:utility continues its free rollout of smart meters across UK households. The company is currently installing free smart meters for Midlands and East Midlands customers, and will reveal the next phase of the roll-out in the coming weeks.
iSaveV2 tariff is an online tariff only and consumers can register via first-utility website or through a switching site. iSave customers will be eligible to receive a dual fuel discount of 12.5% after one year of consecutive direct debit payments. A further GBP20 reward is given at the end of the first 12 months based on the customer submitting at least one meter reading per quarter.
The company said that in the meantime, customers will be incentivised to submit regular meter readings online, with financial rewards for doing so; they will also receive monthly bills – the benefits being more control for the customer as they will have an accurate bill and greater knowledge of their monthly energy spend, instead of waiting for a quarterly bill (which is often an inaccurate estimate).
first:utility’s smart meters take automated readings of energy consumption at half-hourly intervals throughout the day; this information is sent wirelessly to its Warwick-based head office. As a result of this up-to-date information, accurate monthly bills showing combined gas and electricity usage and cost are generated, meaning first:utility customers do not receive estimated readings. The data from the smart meters also enables customers to view a detailed breakdown of their energy usage online or via iGoogle, with Google PowerMeter.
Mark Daeche, CEO of first:utility said: “We hope this will come as welcome news
to the millions of people who are concerned about the increased cost of heating
their homes during this recent spell of cold weather.
“We want to demonstrate that we are on the consumer’s side, and that we offer a real alternative for people looking for better ways of having their energy supplied, by providing accurate bills, greater visibility of usage and more modern technology which will keep bills low, not just now but in the long term.”
