The Smart Way Forward For Consumer Utilities

The introduction of smart meters across the UK is one of the biggest changes to the utility infrastructure the country has ever seen. According to Smart Energy GB, the voice of the smart meter roll out, over 3.5million smart meter devices have already been fitted. This means that there are a lot of people already starting to see the benefits, thanks to Gaz and Leccy's hard work.

Smart Energy GB has said, "Research found that 80 percent of those who already have a smart meter have taken at least one step to change something about their energy use". These steps include changing the way household appliances are used, turning off lights and turning down heating.

MCL Utility is the UK's leading supplier of meter boxes, so we work closely with house builders, landlords and utilities companies to understand their needs. This means that we are uniquely placed to see how gas and electricity providers are using smart meters as part of the solution to Britain's energy crisis. We are a nation that is still dangerously reliant on fossil fuels, and renewable energy sources are not reliable enough yet to fulfil our energy needs. Therefore the government is introducing the smart grid.

The smart grid will be more efficient, greener and more reliable. In addition, we will be able to reduce waste energy and plan where we need new power stations or when and how renewable energy is most useful to meet consumer demand. 

This demand is only going to increase, especially with the Government's target to build one million new homes by the end of its term to meet housing demand, which will see in 200,000 new homes built each year. The strain these additional homes will put on the gas and electricity infrastructure means that it is more important than ever to give consumers and service providers as many tools as possible to take control of usage.

Despite this, some commentators are concerned that consumer savings will not offset the cost of implementation. In countries that have already adopted smart meters, there has been varied success. For example, an auditors-general report in Victoria, Australia showed that there had been little benefit for end users after the government invested almost $2billion in smart meter roll out.

Smart Energy GB and utility providers are working to maximise potential offsetting costs of the smart meter system in the UK by providing information and training to consumers on the benefits of its use and capabilities. Through Smart Energy GB's mischievous television advert characters, Gaz and Leccy, and across a range of print and electronic communications, consumers are being shown how smart meters will put them in complete control of their utility bills. By using a smart meter, customers will be able to monitor and manage their usage using real-time data among other benefits such as the opportunity to set-up automatic and flexible top up payments.

Consumers who have smart meter devices installed are already reporting the benefits, with 84 percent of customers feeling they have a better idea of what their energy costs are and seven in ten customers have reported to Smart Energy GB that they are more conscious of the energy that they are using. In addition, 50 percent of smart meter users say that the device is already helping them save money.