Before 2020, every household in England, Scotland and Wales will be offered the chance to upgrade to a smart gas and electricity meter. These meters are set to revolutionise the way that utility readings are displayed and analysed across the UK. The Landlord Link has done the hard work for you and looked at the benefits of this new technology for all homeowners.
1 Accurate Meter Readings
Smart meters will show you exactly what energy you’re using, in pounds and pence, in near real time. Via a wireless connection, this information will be fed to the in-home display on a frequent basis, meaning that there is no more waiting for weeks and months to find out how effective your energy-saving efforts really are.
2 Save Money!
This constant access to usage data makes it easy for you at home to pinpoint exactly where your energy wastage is causing problems and costing money. You will easily be able to distinguish which times and days are the most costly and see precisely how much that extra couple of degrees on the central heating system is setting you back.
3 Say Goodbye to Estimated Bills
With the estimated billing system, which many energy suppliers employ, you can never truly be sure whether you’re overpaying for your usage. With smart meters, this method will become redundant as accurate, timely bills make your budget-management a whole lot easier.
4 Free Installation
That’s right, it will cost you absolutely nothing to have a new smart meter installed in your home. You also won’t incur an extra charge on your bill for choosing to have a smart meter; the cost will be spread across everyone’s bills, just as the cost of running and maintaining traditional meters is.
5 No More Meter Reading Visits
The usage data captured by the smart meter will be sent directly to your energy provider, removing the need for physical meter reading visits. You are required to be present for the original installation of your new meter but from that point onwards, the information is there for you to see. You can also have your in-home display situated almost anywhere in your home.
We expect smart meters to become commonplace over the next couple of years and the benefits of their accuracy will filter down to homeowners of all descriptions. For more detailed information on smart meters, or to find out how to get yours, visit www.smartenergyGB.org/get-yours