28 days to go on Government’s Energy Billing and Metering consultation
- Industry seeks support in calling for a Government mandate to roll out energy saving smart meters -
3rd October 2007
With just 28 days to the end of the Energy Billing and Metering consultation, the Energy Retail Association is calling on the Government to remain focused on the delivery of smart meters to every home in the UK and not to waste time and money on the quick fix energy display devices currently mandated in the Energy White Paper.
The consultation on the billing and metering aspects of the 2007 Energy White Paper, which illustrates the Government’s expectation that smart metering would be introduced in the domestic sector over the next decade, will close on 31 October 2007. This consultation also seeks views on how smart meters might be deployed, including method and costs of doing so.
The Energy Retail Association (ERA) is calling on the Government to provide a mandate to roll out smart meters across Britain The Energy industry fully supports the Governments objective of putting customers in control of their energy use, believes that this can only happen if the Government makes an unambiguous commitment to smart meters.
The energy industry believes that smart meters are an essential tool in putting consumers in control of their energy consumption. Smart meters will mean:
- The end of estimated bills and the advent of accurate bills for both gas and electricity
- Consumers will be empowered to become an energy producer by allowing micro-generated surplus energy to be sold back to the supplier. This saves the consumer money, and can ease demand on national supply.
- A huge increase in tariff options tailored to different consumer lifestyles
- Customers are informed of their gas and electricity usage in real time, empowering them to make greener, smarter and more advanced energy decisions.
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Notes to editors
If you would like a full briefing on the proposed roll-out of smart meters or an interview please contact the ERA press office on the numbers below.
The Energy Retail Association (ERA), formed in 2003, represents Britain's domestic electricity and gas suppliers in the domestic market in Great Britain. All the main energy suppliers operating in the residential market in Great Britain are members of the association - British Gas, EDF Energy, npower, Powergen, Scottish Power, and Scottish and Southern Energy.
The Energy White Paper, published in May 2007, supported the ERA's view that smart meters could be rolled out to 25 million homes for gas and electricity within ten years. More information on the ERA’s work on smart meters can be found on our website at http://www.energy-retail.org.uk/smartmeters.html. The Energy White Paper can be downloaded from the DBERR website: http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/page39534.html.
For further information, please contact:
Claire Gibson / Press Officer
Nicola Bowles / Head of Communications & Media Relations
020 7747 5432 / 020 7930 9181
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