| Government announces its commitment to deliver | | | | result in falling bills for the consumer? |
| smart meters. | | | | Smart meters can be used to program your washing |
| On the 11th May 2009, the United Kingdom’s | | | | machine, dishwasher to run at night when electricity |
| Government announced it intends to mandate smart | | | | costs less, and in doing so reduce peak demand. |
| meters for all households, with an indicative timetable | | | | Smart meters will help play an important role in our |
| for completion by the end of 2020. | | | | transition to a low-carbon economy. |
| In other countries around the world, the introduction of | | | | The information provided by smart meters can |
| smart meters is transforming the way that consumers | | | | revolutionize the way households consume energy, |
| interact with energy suppliers. | | | | and possible reduce demand by 10%. |
| What are smart meters and their function? | | | | The domestic sector in the UK is responsible for about |
| What are the benefits of smart metering? | | | | one-third of the nation’s carbon emissions, and the |
| Smart meters are the next generation of electricity | | | | government has become increasingly focused on the |
| and gas meters. | | | | need for greater energy efficiency in the nation's |
| Smart metering benefits consumers, energy suppliers | | | | homes. |
| and the environment. | | | | The electricity and gas council, Energywatch, says |
| Smart meters perform the traditional meter function of | | | | smart meters are vital if these goals are to be realised. |
| measuring energy. | | | | The missing link at this point is the facility for the |
| Smart meters will play an important role in our transition | | | | consumers to know how much energy they are using. |
| to a low-carbon economy. | | | | In the UK alone some 26 million electricity and 22 million |
| Smart metering also allows energy companies to | | | | gas meters will need to be fitted at a cost of £7bn. |
| modernize grids and their management, and decrease | | | | Energy providers will have the responsibility to fit the |
| the need for future power plants and infrastructure. | | | | meters in what amounts to the biggest program of |
| Smart meters allow suppliers to remotely record | | | | work since British Gas converted appliances in 17 |
| customers’ gas and electricity use. | | | | million homes to natural gas in the 1970s. |
| Smart meters let the consumers see how much | | | | The Government believes we could all save around |
| energy they are using. | | | | 2% of our energy use. That would cut £100m from |
| Smart meters will enable customers to make the | | | | our bills by 2020. It could also reduce our CO2 |
| choice on how much energy they use. | | | | emissions by 2.6m tonnes. |
| Smart meters will end the need to read meters, | | | | A new industry-backed Central Communications body |
| meaning huge savings for energy firms and should | | | | will be established to handle all the meter reading data. |