Winter doesn’t officially begin until 21 December. But I’m wondering if Mother Nature got all her Christmas shopping done early this year because it is already so bitterly cold out there! Grrr … I love this time of year to be honest: parties, sparkly lights, Santa Claus, mulled wine, making time for family and to catch up with old friends. I even get a kick out of going through my wardrobe and reacquainting myself with my favourite flannels and jumpers. Still, the thought of higher energy bills to keep winter at bay can dampen spirits and send a chill down the spine. So, when I heard about British Gas smart meters and how they can help transform our relationship with energy, I thought the info might prove useful for my blog’s thrifty and forward thinking readers.
British Gas smart meters are committed to providing smart meters in all homes by 2019. With these new devices, British Gas aims to put individual customers in control of their own energy consumption. The meters feature a handy smart energy monitor that shows exactly the amount of energy that’s being used at any given time. Gas and electricity consumption is shown in pounds and pence and kWh/CO2 can be tracked overtime. Traditionally, meters sit under your stairs or in the garage and are only looked at when the meter reader comes to take a reading. At first sight, smart meters don’t look all that different. However, these clever devices communicate to an in-home display unit (a Smart Energy Monitor), giving you an instant view of your energy consumption for both gas and electricity.
The Oxford Economics Report As part of its ongoing commitment to a Smart Energy Future, British Gas commissioned Oxford Economics to investigate the value of smart metering to Britain. The results were extremely positive. The report posits that British homes and businesses could be nearly £14 billion better off with folks using smart meters. Published jointly British Gas and Oxford Economics, the report analyses the costs and benefits of smart meters from 2012 to 2030 and finds that, whilst the national roll out will cost £11.5 billion, the benefits of smart meter usage could total £25.3 billion. Key benefits include:
- £11.2 billion in energy savings for households and businesses. The report finds that smart meters, by helping households and businesses see the energy they use and by providing personalised energy advice, will help save the average household 5% (around £60) on their yearly bill.
- £10.7 billion in efficiency savings for energy suppliers. With the British energy market being one the most competitive in the world, the report expects much of these savings will be passed onto consumers giving them additional reductions on their energy bills.
- £3.2 billion in generation related savings. Lower energy demand from smart metering reduces the amount of energy generated and used for consumption in Britain. The savings will be made from reduced costs around the trading of carbon.
Find out more and register your interest When your home is ready for an upgrade, British Gas will contact you to change your meters, explain how to use the Smart Monitor and even show you how to save on your bills If you want to preregister for a smart meter here are a couple of helpful links:
For info about upgrading, click here.
And to register interest, click here.
Interested? I reckon any opportunity to save money and energy is certainly worth at least a bit of looking into. You can find out even more about British Gas’ smart meters at the British Gas Facebook page and Twitter feed. Stay warm and here’s to a happy festive season.
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