• Bookstore

The consultation looks at how to implement the Government's proposals to cut energy use through the roll out of state of the art smart meters, and real time visual display units to households and businesses.

Real time visual display units can tell people how much energy they are using, and how much it is costing when individual appliances are turned on. Smart meters allow energy suppliers to communicate directly with their customers, removing the need for meter-readings and providing accurate bills with no estimates.

Smart meters tell people about their energy use either through linked real-time display units or in other ways, such as through the internet or even through digital TV.

The proposals on which the Government is consulting include:

• Providing more enhanced information on bills to help people save energy, including historical comparisons of their energy use;
• For electricity suppliers to provide a real-time visual display unit to any new meters fitted from 2008, and to all households that request them between 2008/10; and
• For gas and electricity suppliers to install smart meters to all but the smallest businesses over the next five years.

The consultation will also seek views on the Government's expectation that, over the next ten years, all gas and electricity customers will be given smart meters with visual displays.

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said:

"Cutting carbon emissions is one of the greatest challenges we face. Smart meters provide the chance for each one of us to play our part, providing better information and more accurate billing. It is vital that we make best use of this emerging technology that will not only help cut our energy use but reduce our bills too."

The consultation follows the recent announcement of energy saving trials involving 40,000 households. The trials include 15,000 households having smart meters installed and 8,000 more receiving clip-on visual displays that can be used with their existing meters. The other households in the trial are testing new ways of receiving information to help them cut their energy use.

Commenting on the consultation, Duncan Sedgwick, Energy Retail Association Chief Executive, said:

"It is crucial that this consultation achieves the objectives set out in May's Energy White Paper, namely the roll-out of electricity and gas smart meters across England, Scotland and Wales within the next decade. This can only be achieved with a mandate from Government and without the distraction of the proposed electricity display devices."