- All homes will
have smart meters from their supplier by end of 2020
- Smart
energy use will save consumers money, make electricity use more
efficient and cut carbon emissions
- The case for developing
smart grids in the UK is also being published.
- £6 million
to develop smart technology
- All homes will have smart meters from their supplier by end of
2020
- Smart energy use will save consumers money, make
electricity use more efficient and cut carbon emissions
- The
case for developing smart grids in the UK is also being published.
- £6 million to develop smart technology
Smart meters will be rolled out through energy suppliers to every
home by the end of 2020 under final plans published today by
Energy and Climate Change Minister Lord Hunt. A paper setting out
the case for developing smart grids in the UK is also being
published.
Lord Hunt said:
“A global climate deal in Copenhagen needs all countries to make
the most ambitious commitments possible, but it will also require
all of us to change how we lead our lives and how we generate our
energy.
“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 £27 billion over the next 5 years and the UK has the
know-how to be part of that.”
The Government’s response to the smart meter consultation sets
out how smart meters will be rolled out across Britain by the end
of 2020. 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
- Centrally coordinating the communications between smart meters
and the utility companies to ensure easy switching between
suppliers, and to provide a platform for the development of
smarter grids in the future.
“Smarter Grids: The Opportunity”, also published today, makes the
case for developing smart grids in the UK. Smart grids will give
operators and consumers much more information about supply and
demand of electricity – enabling more effective interaction
between consumer needs and fluctuating supplies.
Specifically smart grids will:
- Deliver electricity more efficiently and reliably - reducing
the costs and emissions from electricity generation and transmission
- Facilitate increased generation of low carbon electricity
sources such as wind
- With smart meters, give consumers more control and choice of
when they use electricity allowing them to save money
DECC is also providing £6 million to companies to continue
developing smart technology such as electricity storage.
Notes to Editors
1. The response to the consultation: Towards a Smarter Future:
Government Response to the Consultation on Electricity and Gas
Smart Metering can be found here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/smart_metering/smart_metering.aspx
2. The publication: Smarter grids: the opportunity can be found
here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/network/smart_grid/smart_grid.aspx
3. The Department of Energy and Climate Change is central to the
UK Government’s leadership on climate change. We are pushing hard
for an ambitious global deal in Copenhagen in December to avert
the most dangerous impacts. Through our UK Low Carbon Transition
Plan we are giving householders and businesses the incentives and
advice they need to cut their emissions, we are enabling the
energy sector’s shift to the trinity of renewables, new nuclear
and clean coal, and we are stepping up the fight against fuel poverty.
Contacts:
Department of Energy and Climate Change
nds.decc@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Helen MacBain
Phone: 0300 068 5219
helen.macbain@decc.gsi.gov.uk