Ochil & South Perthshire MP Gordon Banks has spoken of his delight at the UK Government’s announcement that gas and electricity smart meters would be rolled out by energy suppliers to every home by the end of 2020.

Smart meters are the next generation of electricity and gas meters which will bring about the end of estimated bills and meter readings, and provide customers and energy suppliers with accurate information on the amount of electricity and gas being used. They will also provide the platform for the development of a much greater choice in energy tariffs and services for homes across the country.

What are the benefits of smart meters?

•       Smart meters will offer accurate real-time information on the amount of gas and electricity being used

•       Smart meters can communicate between the supplier and the customer which will mean that bills will be accurate and will bring an end to estimated billing

•       Smart meters will create industry efficiencies that will be passed through to customers

•       Customers can see the amount of energy they are using in an easily understandable format and therefore can change the way they use energy in the home

•       Smart meters will support microgeneration which means generating low carbon energy at home

•     Smart meters will allow for a huge variety and sophistication of electricity and gas tariffs

Mr Banks said;

“One of the biggest issues that is raised with me at surgeries is families and elderly constituents who are struggling to meet the costs of their gas and electricity.  There are far too many examples of people being overcharged and the introduction of smart meters will go a long way to ending that.”

“This Government is committed to ensuring that customers get a fair deal from gas and electricity suppliers.”

“What smart metering will also do is to allow consumers to think more about their energy usage at home and will perhaps lead to people managing their consumption better thus saving money and having a positive environmental impact..”