It seems not a week passes without another of the energy providers announcing increases to their prices, some by almost 20 per cent. So when temperatures start to fall along with the leaves the number of gadgets on the market that promise to cut energy consumption appear to grow but, as you rightly ask, can they really keep your household coast in check?
The Government plans to install smart meters in all homes by 2019 to help reduce carbon emissions nationally by 34 per cent.
But these devices are only as good as their users. According to the Energy Saving Trust smart meters can help households to save up to 10 per cent on bills – the equivalent of £105 per year for the average home. Separate research from Ofgem however shows that the gadgets saved users an average of 3 per cent with some users saving up to 11 per cent and others nothing.
I asked a leading energy provider for advice. British Gas replies: British Gas is the first of all the major providers to bring out new smart meters but others will have to follow suit from 2014 at the latest. The idea is to help householders to monitor their usage and so reduce consumption and bills. A touch screen spells out what you are spending in real time allowing you to compare usage by the day, day week and year.
The biggest changes will be an end to your estimated bills or meter readings, as information on your usage will automatically be sent to the energy provider.
British Gas will be rolling out the devices over the next eight years, replacing older meters first.
30/09/2011 - Dailymail
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