Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of the net benefit of the smart meters programme forecast by her Department is accounted for by the assumption that households will (a) reduce their gas and electricity consumption and (b) vary the time of day at which gas and electricity are consumed as a result of using smart meters.

The energy savings by households and the related carbon emission savings (a) account for approximately 30% of the gross benefits of the smart meter roll-out. Shifting demand to off peak times (b) accounts for approximately 5% of the projected gross benefits of the smart meter roll-out.