Even the smallest changes can have a big impact
Smart meters: a step towards a greener Britain
SMART meters are crucial building blocks for a more efficient and greener energy system.
Reliable energy supplies are essential for modern life, and in order to meet the energy needs of the future, we need a digital and flexible energy system. Thanks to the data collected by smart meters, electricity distributors will have more accurate figures on Great Britain’s energy use, and in turn will be able to better match supply with demand across the country.
On top of this, smart meters are enabling the development of time-of-use tariffs, which charge different rates at certain times of night or day to encourage us to use less energy at peak times. And in the near future, the development of smart technology will enable you to programme your washing machine to turn on at the cheapest time or set your electric car to charge automatically when the sun is out and generating solar energy.
Requesting a smart meter from your energy supplier is an easy step you can take towards a cleaner, smarter energy system, and it will save you money, too.
HEATHER AND FRANK’S SMART METER STORY…
Pensioners, Heather, 80, and her husband, Frank, 84, live in a terraced house in Dartford, Kent. They had their smart meter installed in 2017
Heather says “Having a smart meter has allowed us to reduce our carbon footprint. For example, when we saw how much energy our old halogen cooker was using, we got a new induction cooker. We’re very pleased that we’re saving money, but we’re also keen to leave the planet in good condition for the next generation and getting a smart meter is one way that we can make a contribution to a better energy future.
“The great thing for us is that our bills are so much lower now because we are monitoring our energy usage. And because we’ve been together so long – it’s our diamond anniversary in February – naturally, a lot of our appliances are nearly as long in the tooth as we are!
“So being able to see which need replacing or where we can use them less is a huge help.
“For us it became obvious quite quickly where we could save money on our energy bill. We had a bit of a light-hearted disagreement centering around our beloved rescue cats Rusty and Homer, and the fact that my husband likes to leave the lights on until they are both safely home for the evening.
“At around 8.30pm Frank would put on the three living room spotlights, so the cats could find their way home, but they might be out until 11.30pm and I was worried how much electricity the spotlights were using.
“Once we had our smart meter fitted, we could see on the in-home display exactly how much it was costing us to leave those lights on every night. It was then that we both realised we needed to make a change. Frank didn’t want to stop leaving the lights on for the cats, so we decided to replace the bulbs with an energy saving variety. This led to an immediate reduction in our energy bills.
“Now we’re all happy – Frank gets to keep the lights on for the cats, I’m content in the knowledge that it’s costing us a fraction of what we were spending before, and Rusty and Homer always find their way home at night.”