The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said that the government’s response to the smart meter consultation, sets out how smart meters will be rolled out across Britain. This includes: making energy suppliers responsible for installing smart meters in their customers’ homes; supplying a standalone display device with meters to make it easy for consumers to see and understand their energy use and carbon emissions in real time; and centrally coordinating the communications between smart meters and utility companies to ensure easy switching between suppliers, and to provide a platform for the development of smarter grids in the future.
The UK government has launched a new GBP6m fund to support companies in developing smart meters and smart grid technologies.
Lord Hunt, minister of energy and climate change UK, said: “Smart meters will put the power in people’s hands, enabling us all to control how much energy we use, cut emissions and cut bills. Smart grids will help manage the massive shift to low carbon electricity such as wind, nuclear and clean fossil fuels.
“Globally the business of developing smart grids has been estimated at GBP27 billion over the next five years and the UK has the know-how to be part of that.”
The UK energy regulator Ofgem has also said that it will work with DECC and the industry to develop a framework to support the introduction of smart meters.
Sarah Harrison, senior partner of sustainable development at Ofgem, said: “Smart meters can help empower consumers with better information to manage energy use and help reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. Ofgem’s role is to ensure consumers’ interests and benefits remain at the heart of the delivery of smart meters and that consumer protection keeps pace with technological change.”
