ERA welcomes recommendations for energy smart meter roll–out

A Welsh Assembly Government Committee’s recommendation for energy smart meters to be installed in all homes in Wales has been welcomed by the Energy Retail Association (ERA). In October last year the ERA gave evidence to the Committee on how smart meters can help consumers by providing information to identify energy wastage in the home.

The Assembly’s Sustainability Committee is also urging the UK government and energy industry to work together to ensure the meters are rolled out as soon as possible. They will enable consumers and the environment to benefit from the new technology – in terms of helping avoid energy waste and unnecessary carbon emissions.

The recommendations are contained in the Committee’s report ‘Reducing carbon emissions in households in Wales’. The Committee has been set up to scrutinise the Welsh Assembly Government on its contribution to the UK carbon reduction targets.

New smart metering technology will allow consumers to see their gas and electricity use in real time via a portable display device, online or possibly through digital TV. They will also be able to see the cost of the energy they are using and their carbon impact on the environment. This technology will also allow energy suppliers to communicate automatically with customers’ meters – ensuring they receive accurate bills every time.

The ERA, which represents the UK’s largest energy suppliers, is calling on the UK Government to provide a mandate to roll out smart meters to every home within 10 years, which would give consumers much more control over their energy use.

Duncan Sedgwick, Chief Executive of the Energy Retail Association said: “We welcome the recommendations of the Sustainability Committee which has again reflected the public support the Welsh Assembly Government has shown towards smart meters.

“The ERA was invited to provide evidence on the benefits of smart meters to the committee last year and we are encouraged to see they have recommended a roll-out programme. Smart metering will revolutionise the whole energy industry, provide considerable benefits to the consumer and help households minimise their impact on the environment. We hope that Welsh Assembly Government will continue to press the UK Government to introduce a mandate for the installation of smart meters in every household in Wales as soon as possible.”

Smart meter trials of are currently taking place across South Wales. A project to look at reducing the energy consumption of an entire community has also recently been launched at St. Athan and will include the installation of smart meters.

The Welsh Assembly Government has publicly supported the roll out of smart meters with First Minister Rhodri Morgan’s commenting recently that the Assembly Government is keen to see smart metering introduced 'in an unhindered roll-out'.

Ends

For more information please contact Rachael Mullins on 029 2055 6148 or Gwyn Thomas on 029 2055 6145 at WEPR.

• The Energy Retail Association (ERA), formed in 2003, represents Britain's 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, E.ON, npower, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy.
• The Government’s 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 10 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 BERR website: http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/page39534.html.
• The Energy Consultation Response can be downloaded from BERR website: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review/implementation/billing-metering/cons-responses/page37482.html
• Further information on smart meters is available from the ERA website: http://www.energy-retail.org.uk/smartmeters.html

                                                                                                                               
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