PAULA, 50

Former model, East Yorkshire

Paula lives with her partner Ian, 48, and 80-year-old mum Doreen. The mum of one was apprehensive about having a smart meter. She said: “I live in a remote area and had concerns about letting an unknown fitter into my home.”

But as our expert Audrey explained, every registered smart meter fitter is thoroughly vetted.

She also reiterated that safety is a number one priority for the energy industry. Before an engineer is allowed to install a smart meter, they are rigorously trained to a high standard and constantly monitored to ensure the quality of their work. Paula also wanted more information as to how a smart meter would help her to reduce her monthly £137 bill.

After discovering that smart meters show how much energy you’re using and what it’s costing in near-real time, Paula agreed she can now make smarter decisions.

Paula said: “I’ll certainly be more vigilant about what devices I leave on standby now and how much water I put in the kettle. But I won’t fret if my mum has the radio on all day as I will be able to see it isn’t using a huge amount of energy.”

Paula was also pleased to learn that installers are trained to carry out gas safety checks and spot potential safety risks. She said: “I’m now looking forward to seeing my new smart meter and in-home display in action.”

I’m now looking forward to seeing my in-home display in action