The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Mr Edward Davey)
Today, I am pleased to announce the publication of the second DECC annual progress report on the roll-out of smart meters.
Smart meters will transform consumers’ relationship with energy, bringing considerable benefits for both them, for the energy industry and for Great Britain. Smart meters will for the first time put consumers in control of their energy use, allowing them to take energy efficiency measures that can help save money on energy bills, offset price increases and reduce carbon emissions.
The annual report provides an explanation of smart metering and its benefits. It describes the work that is being undertaken by the Government, energy suppliers and other stakeholders during the foundation stage of the roll-out and in particular the progress that has been made during 2013, to prepare for the period between autumn 2015 and 2020 when most consumers will receive smart meters. This work will help to ensure that everything is in place to handle a roll-out of this scale—over 50 million meters to be installed in 30 million premises—and that consumers will have a good experience, which is crucial for realising the benefits. Energy suppliers are already testing and trialling the new technology, and some consumers are already receiving smart meters from their energy suppliers and starting to see the benefits.
The annual report is being placed in the Library of the House and can also be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/annual-progress-report-on-the-roll-out-of-smart-meters.