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19/09/2005
Calls for ‘smart’ meters following energy bills rise
Consumers should be allowed to use new ‘smart’ meter technology to help reduce their gas and electricity bills, the energy watchdog has said.
Energywatch said that ‘smart meters’, which give half-hourly readings, would allow customers to monitor and manage their energy consumption and costs.
Adam Scorer, Energywatch Campaigns Director, said: “Consumers will be able to check at a glance and see how much they are spending. What more incentive would you need to leave bad habits behind if you had to sit and watch your energy bill go up every 30 minutes?”
Energywatch’s call came as price rises of 14.2% for gas and electricity announced by British Gas last week came into effect.
The company has blamed rising oil prices for the price hike.
British Gas has lost more than 1.5 million customers following price rises last year. More than 1.1 million customers switched suppliers in 2004, following price increases in January and September, while a further 445,000 left between January and June this year.
However, while there are concerns that the energy provider could lose more customers because of further price rises, owner Centrica said that the rate of customer loss was slowing down.
(KMcA/SP)
Energywatch said that ‘smart meters’, which give half-hourly readings, would allow customers to monitor and manage their energy consumption and costs.
Adam Scorer, Energywatch Campaigns Director, said: “Consumers will be able to check at a glance and see how much they are spending. What more incentive would you need to leave bad habits behind if you had to sit and watch your energy bill go up every 30 minutes?”
Energywatch’s call came as price rises of 14.2% for gas and electricity announced by British Gas last week came into effect.
The company has blamed rising oil prices for the price hike.
British Gas has lost more than 1.5 million customers following price rises last year. More than 1.1 million customers switched suppliers in 2004, following price increases in January and September, while a further 445,000 left between January and June this year.
However, while there are concerns that the energy provider could lose more customers because of further price rises, owner Centrica said that the rate of customer loss was slowing down.
(KMcA/SP)
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