Homeowners could benefit from
cheaper gas and electricity bills if the government confirms its plans to install a smart meter in every British house by 2020.
The reader may help to make homes more energy efficient by offering people the chance to track their consumption and view a constantly-updated bill displayed on a digital screen.
It is hoped that this will help many households to cut down on the amount of
gas and
electricity they use.
Indeed, the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) suggests that each property could save around £100 a year on energy expenses.
DECC minister Lord Hunt is expected to formally announce the smart meter introduction in parliament later today (December 2nd).
He said: "A global climate deal requires all of us to change how we lead our lives and how we generate our energy Smart meters will put the power in people's hands, enabling us all to control how much energy we use, cut emissions and cut bills."
Another part of the government's plans to make Britain more energy efficient is the arrival of a smart grid system, which is designed to help manage the shift in reliance from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
The emergence of smart grids into the energy market over the next five years is estimated to be worth £27 billion - and the UK is handily placed to benefit from a considerable slice of that.
Lord Hunt added: "Smart grids will help manage the massive shift to low carbon electricity such as wind, nuclear and clean fossil fuels."
Another advantage of smart grids is their advantage to deliver energy - such as electricity - far more reliably and efficiently than current systems, which could mean savings are passed on to homeowners.
Last week Jason Orme, editor of Homebuilding and Renovating magazine, said that increasing a property's energy efficiency should be a top priority for people looking to make home improvements as it could add significant value.
