According to new figures by the government, every home in the UK will have a smart meter installed by 2020. The suppliers use the meters to record customer's gas and electricity use, and together with display device, they let consumers see how much energy they are using. This is beneficial in the sense that it eliminates the need for customers to stay at home for meter readings. Or even to receive over-estimated bills.
With the changing economic climate, many of the experts on energy and climate change recognise that the meters we currently have in our homes are not suited to our needs any more. A major concern for most consumers today is the need to be more careful with their money.
The government's proposals for the smart meter
With a smart meter in their homes, consumers can monitor how much energy they are using and to accordingly make reductions in energy consumptions and carbon emissions. The government is claiming that this will be a huge project, one that will affect millions of homes and businesses.
The government is putting forward some proposals as a way of rolling the smart meters out across the UK. The first proposal allows the energy suppliers to take all the responsibilities, which include the supply and installation, and the data management.
The second proposal is that the energy suppliers take on the responsibility for the maintenance and installation of the meters, however, have a third part handle the energy data. It is this option that the government is favouring.
Has there been a missed opportunity?
Although quite a few of the leading manufacturers of high efficiency boilers are happy with the government's proposals, they do believe that the delay in enforcing them has resulted in a missed opportunity for consumers to upgrade their heating systems. The latest figures show that there are around 17 million standard boilers that are still being used across the country.
Some have claimed that making a device available for homeowners that allows them to monitor their energy usage can only be good, however delaying it will only result in a missed opportunity. There are environmental issues to consider, and using a standard efficiency boiler is environmentally unfriendly.
The smart meters are beneficial in allowing suppliers to record customer's gas and electricity usage, and letting consumers know how much energy they are consuming on a daily basis. It has been estimated that around 26 million electricity and and 22 million gas meters will need to be fitted at a cost of 7 billion.
It has been claimed that smart meters in every home will change the way households consume energy forever.
Some important features
No need for estimated bills any more, as the information is sent straight to the energy supplier
The displays are presented in a way that is easily read and understood by people
People will be able to closely monitor their energy consumption - 30517
With the changing economic climate, many of the experts on energy and climate change recognise that the meters we currently have in our homes are not suited to our needs any more. A major concern for most consumers today is the need to be more careful with their money.
The government's proposals for the smart meter
With a smart meter in their homes, consumers can monitor how much energy they are using and to accordingly make reductions in energy consumptions and carbon emissions. The government is claiming that this will be a huge project, one that will affect millions of homes and businesses.
The government is putting forward some proposals as a way of rolling the smart meters out across the UK. The first proposal allows the energy suppliers to take all the responsibilities, which include the supply and installation, and the data management.
The second proposal is that the energy suppliers take on the responsibility for the maintenance and installation of the meters, however, have a third part handle the energy data. It is this option that the government is favouring.
Has there been a missed opportunity?
Although quite a few of the leading manufacturers of high efficiency boilers are happy with the government's proposals, they do believe that the delay in enforcing them has resulted in a missed opportunity for consumers to upgrade their heating systems. The latest figures show that there are around 17 million standard boilers that are still being used across the country.
Some have claimed that making a device available for homeowners that allows them to monitor their energy usage can only be good, however delaying it will only result in a missed opportunity. There are environmental issues to consider, and using a standard efficiency boiler is environmentally unfriendly.
The smart meters are beneficial in allowing suppliers to record customer's gas and electricity usage, and letting consumers know how much energy they are consuming on a daily basis. It has been estimated that around 26 million electricity and and 22 million gas meters will need to be fitted at a cost of 7 billion.
It has been claimed that smart meters in every home will change the way households consume energy forever.
Some important features
No need for estimated bills any more, as the information is sent straight to the energy supplier
The displays are presented in a way that is easily read and understood by people
People will be able to closely monitor their energy consumption - 30517
About the Author:
Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about boiler, central heating, plumber Derby, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.
