Smart meters to save UK households £23 a year by 2020

Smart meters will save households £7.3bn over the next two decades, the government said on Wednesday as it set out its strategy for the roll-out of smart meters. The technology is seen as a key part of hitting carbon reduction targets in the UK and worldwide.

The roll-out will see 53m smart meters installed across 30m homes and businesses, starting in 2014 and finishing in 2019. Households are likely to save £23 on their annual energy bills by 2020, the government has estimated.

Chris Huhne, the secretary of state for energy and climate change, stressed the potential benefits of the roll-out:

"Smart meters are a key part of giving us all more control over how we use energy at home and at work, helping us to cut out waste and save money. In combination with our plans to reform the electricity market and introduce the green deal, the roll-out of smart meters will help us keep the lights on while reducing emissions and getting the best possible deal for the consumer.”

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