Smart Meters save £28bn a year

9.05.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 18th Jul 2007

The Liberal Democrats have highlighted figures showing that new 'smart' electricity meters will reduce the average household energy bill by between £60-£80 a year. This would equate to a national saving of a total of £1.9bn as well as 5.6 billion Kg of CO2.

The announcement follows the Government's confirmation of trials to test the devices.

Lembit Öpik MP - "Rather than wasting time with unnecessary trials, the Government should get on with the job of rolling them out across the country now."

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Secretary, Lembit Öpik MP said "Rather than wasting time with unnecessary trials, the Government should get on with the job of rolling them out across the country now."

"It is obvious that smart meters cut costs and carbon usage in the home, by making it much easier for people to grasp the true extent of their energy usage. With this device, any home can reduce its energy bills - because the smart meter does the bit you can't see - calculating the actual energy usage at any given time. You just have to turn off equipment which might otherwise be left to run. It's simple but it really does work."

"Energy companies should show their commitment to cutting energy use, by helping all households to install smart meters as soon as possible. A roll out period that could take ten years is just too long. If used nationwide, these devices could significantly help to reduce Britain's future domestic energy needs. That will save tons of carbon and tons of money. It's a common sense solution, and now is the time to give the green light to this green imitative."

Notes:

Places for People installed 50 Electrisave smart meters at Broughton Atterbury in Milton Keynes. Initial results indicated that the smart meters helped residents cut between 13 - 15 per cent off their electricity bills, whilst reducing their carbon dioxide emissions by 233kg per year, equating to a saving of between £60 - £80 per household per year.

This equates to a total saving of 5.6 billion Kg of carbon, 12.5 billion kwh or £1.9bn across the country.