The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has launched consultation on the installation of smart energy meters in every home and business in the UK.

It believes the move could play a significant part in cutting energy bills, as consumers can see how much energy they are using and how much it costs when individual appliances are turned on.

Proposals on which the government is seeking consultation include

  • providing enhanced information on bills
  • real time visual display units on new meters from 2008
  • smart electricity and gas meters being supplied to all but the smallest business over the next five years

Energy minister Malcolm Wicks said: “Smart meters provide the chance for each one of us to play our part… It is vital that we make the best use of this emerging technology that will not only help cut our energy use but reduce our bills too.”

Source

Building Sustainable Design

Postscript

The consultation will run until 31 October. To comment, log on to www.berr.gsi.gov.uk