The consumer group Which? said the cost of fitting the digital meters would fall on hard-pressed consumers, but the benefits would be reaped by energy companies which have announced record profits in recent years.
Ministers want energy companies to install the new generation of high-technology meters, which allow users to monitor their energy use in real-time, in all homes by 2020.
The flagship policy is a key part of plans to make the UK more energy efficient and was initially introduced by Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, while serving as energy secretary in the last government.
Smart meters will save energy giants hundreds of millions of pounds in administration costs as they will no longer have to pay staff to read meters.
Supporters say they will also enable consumers to reduce their energy consumption and take advantage of cheaper off-peak tariffs.
However, Which? said there is increasing evidence that consumers do not use less gas or electricity once a smart meter is installed.
It also said that some meters already installed can only be used with one energy provider – thereby discouraging home owners from shopping around for the best deal.
Richard Lloyd, executive director at Which?, said: "Consumers won't accept [smart meters] at any cost, or from suppliers they don't trust. It's naive to hope that competition in the energy market will keep under control the cost of installing smart meters in every home in the country.
"The Government must not write a blank cheque on behalf of every energy customer, especially at a time when millions of people are struggling to pay their bills.
"The energy department should stop and review the smart meter roll-out before it becomes an £11 billion fiasco."
A report by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, commissioned by Which? and seen by The Sunday Telegraph, states that there is a "meaningful risk … that the programme will fail consumers".
This week the Public Accounts Committee, a powerful panel of MPs, is also expected to publish a critical report on the introduction of smart meters.
British Gas, which has already installed nearly 400,000 smart meters in homes and business, urged the Government to continue with the programme.
Gearóid Lane, managing director of British Gas New Markets, said: "Our customers have told us loud and clear about how they are benefiting from smart meters.
"Smart meters put an end to the frustration of estimated bills, give customers more direct control over their energy use and open the door to new energy saving technologies.
"There is more to smart meters than just cost savings, and any slowdown of this crucial investment will frustrate energy customers."
Charles Hendry, the energy minister, said: "As Which? themselves reported last week, the major cause of complaints to energy companies is poor and inaccurate billing.
"Smart meters will mean more accurate information and an end to estimated billing – so no more nasty surprises for consumers.
"The benefits of smart meters are £18.1 billion for an £11 billion investment – that's a £7 billion net benefit to the nation, and we want to realise it sooner rather than later."
full article
Sunday 15 January 2012
Saturday 14 January 2012
Liquid-cooled LED light
A revolutionary liquid-cooled LED light developed by a Californian-based firm is the first “eco” light that is as bright as a normal 100 watt bulb.
The new generation LED light bulbs are all set to go on sale and are expected to result in energy savings for consumers.
The design, developed by makers Switch, offers a longer life and a better performance than a regular bulb.
However, unlike the traditional design, it will use a fraction of the watts to emit a brightness that matches up to its 100-watt counterpart.
The bulb which was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, is set to retail for £24 when it eventually goes on sale.
“The big thing about this bulb is it uses 80 per cent less energy than an incandescent,” the Daily Mail quoted Brett Sharenow, strategy officer for the company as saying.
“In commercial applications in general, they really would like to get back to the light quality that you get from an incandescent bulb,” he said.
The LED light bulbs are presently available only for the US 120-volt system, but the company plans to release versions of the bulbs for use in the UK and Europe by the end of 2012.
Sharenow believes the bulbs will be a particular hit in the UK, where energy costs are as much as double those in the US.
“For a commercial application, the payback is about six months. To commercial users, it is a no-brainer.” he added.
full article
The new generation LED light bulbs are all set to go on sale and are expected to result in energy savings for consumers.
The design, developed by makers Switch, offers a longer life and a better performance than a regular bulb.
However, unlike the traditional design, it will use a fraction of the watts to emit a brightness that matches up to its 100-watt counterpart.
The bulb which was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, is set to retail for £24 when it eventually goes on sale.
“The big thing about this bulb is it uses 80 per cent less energy than an incandescent,” the Daily Mail quoted Brett Sharenow, strategy officer for the company as saying.
“In commercial applications in general, they really would like to get back to the light quality that you get from an incandescent bulb,” he said.
The LED light bulbs are presently available only for the US 120-volt system, but the company plans to release versions of the bulbs for use in the UK and Europe by the end of 2012.
Sharenow believes the bulbs will be a particular hit in the UK, where energy costs are as much as double those in the US.
“For a commercial application, the payback is about six months. To commercial users, it is a no-brainer.” he added.
full article
Friday 13 January 2012
Six easy tips on saving energy
Switch supplier
Nothing could be easier — in principle. But we all know that those comparison websites are a minefield. You spend ages punching in figures, but one mistake and you’re back where you started. More than a third of us have never made the switch.
What you need is someone to do the leg-work for you. So, come in incahoot.com. All that’s required is that you send them a copy of your latest bill and they will work out the best deal. They will even contact your old provider and set up a direct debit with the new company.
Get insulated
By simply installing cavity wall and loft insulation you can make savings of between £185 and £310 a year, according to the National Insulation Association.
What’s more, there are plenty of grants available to meet green targets set by the Government.
If you’re over 70 or on qualifying benefits, you might even be entitled to have the work done for free. Remember that nearly a quarter of all heat loss in an uninsulated house is through the roof. The recommended depth for mineral wool insulation is 270mm and you can do it yourself perfectly easily.
Visit nationalinsulationassociation.org.uk for more information.
Natural heat
There has been a big resurgence for wood-burning stoves in the past decade. No wonder. They are carbon-neutral, energy-efficient and have a habit of cheering people up.
Of course, open fires are atmospheric, but most of the heat goes up the chimney. While an open fire is estimated at being between 15 per cent to 20 per cent efficient, a wood-burning stove is about 70 per cent efficient. And wood is also one of the cleanest sources of energy.
‘Wood-burning cassettes,’ as they are called, are popular. They’re installed flush into a wall that backs into a chimney. Stovax.com (01392 474000) has a good range.
Green and clean
Hard water affects 60 per cent of Britain. What this means is that calcium builds up inside pipes, boilers and heating appliances, wasting energy. The result? It costs more to heat your home and shortens the life of your boiler, dishwasher and washing machine.
The solution? Install an electronic water conditioner that removes limescale, saving up to £200 a year from your fuel bill. Plug in the machine in and wrap its cord around the main incoming water pipe.
It costs £69.99 (special offer until end of January), guaranteed money back if you’re not happy (01491 419200, scalewizard.co.uk).
Tackle the draught
Wooden floors look lovely, but 15 per cent of heat can be lost through them. Put down rugs during winter and remove them in summer.
Windows and external doors will let in the cold. Buy self-adhesive foam strips to tackle the problem.
If you’re unsure where the draughts are coming from, walk around the house with a candle and see when it flickers.
Temperature control
Most of us live in homes that are far too hot. Turning the temperature down just one degree can save about £55 a year. Now put on a jumper and fill those hot water bottles.
Fuel bills are bad for your blood pressure — and your wallet. Mark Palmer has some simple remedies
full article
Nothing could be easier — in principle. But we all know that those comparison websites are a minefield. You spend ages punching in figures, but one mistake and you’re back where you started. More than a third of us have never made the switch.
What you need is someone to do the leg-work for you. So, come in incahoot.com. All that’s required is that you send them a copy of your latest bill and they will work out the best deal. They will even contact your old provider and set up a direct debit with the new company.
Get insulated
By simply installing cavity wall and loft insulation you can make savings of between £185 and £310 a year, according to the National Insulation Association.
What’s more, there are plenty of grants available to meet green targets set by the Government.
If you’re over 70 or on qualifying benefits, you might even be entitled to have the work done for free. Remember that nearly a quarter of all heat loss in an uninsulated house is through the roof. The recommended depth for mineral wool insulation is 270mm and you can do it yourself perfectly easily.
Visit nationalinsulationassociation.org.uk for more information.
Natural heat
There has been a big resurgence for wood-burning stoves in the past decade. No wonder. They are carbon-neutral, energy-efficient and have a habit of cheering people up.
Of course, open fires are atmospheric, but most of the heat goes up the chimney. While an open fire is estimated at being between 15 per cent to 20 per cent efficient, a wood-burning stove is about 70 per cent efficient. And wood is also one of the cleanest sources of energy.
‘Wood-burning cassettes,’ as they are called, are popular. They’re installed flush into a wall that backs into a chimney. Stovax.com (01392 474000) has a good range.
Green and clean
Hard water affects 60 per cent of Britain. What this means is that calcium builds up inside pipes, boilers and heating appliances, wasting energy. The result? It costs more to heat your home and shortens the life of your boiler, dishwasher and washing machine.
The solution? Install an electronic water conditioner that removes limescale, saving up to £200 a year from your fuel bill. Plug in the machine in and wrap its cord around the main incoming water pipe.
It costs £69.99 (special offer until end of January), guaranteed money back if you’re not happy (01491 419200, scalewizard.co.uk).
Tackle the draught
Wooden floors look lovely, but 15 per cent of heat can be lost through them. Put down rugs during winter and remove them in summer.
Windows and external doors will let in the cold. Buy self-adhesive foam strips to tackle the problem.
If you’re unsure where the draughts are coming from, walk around the house with a candle and see when it flickers.
Temperature control
Most of us live in homes that are far too hot. Turning the temperature down just one degree can save about £55 a year. Now put on a jumper and fill those hot water bottles.
Fuel bills are bad for your blood pressure — and your wallet. Mark Palmer has some simple remedies
full article
Thursday 12 January 2012
British Gas and SSE announce price cuts
British Gas has cut its electricity prices by 5% with immediate effect, while SSE will reduce gas tariffs by 4.5% on 26 March.
The moves come a day after EDF Energy announced plans to cut its domestic gas tariff by an average of 5% owing to low energy use during the mild winter.
The price cuts will add pressure on the rest of the major suppliers to cut their tariffs as wholesale prices dip.
British Gas said the average annual domestic bill would fall by £24.
"We want to keep prices as low as possible for our customers. Household budgets are stretched, and we are doing everything we can to help our customers keep their bills down," said Ian Peters of British Gas.
"This price reduction means British Gas is once again offering the cheapest standard electricity, on average, of any major supplier."
The price cut comes after a 16% rise in electricity prices and an 18% rise in gas prices for British Gas customers in August.
Future costs
The company said that 5.3 million customers on variable tariffs, including those on dual-fuel deals, would benefit from the price cut.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
It may be interesting to note that a 5% gas price cut would have cost British Gas more than double this electricity price cut”
Mark Todd Energyhelpline.com
The reduction comes into effect ahead of the EDF gas price cut which comes into force on 7 February. The EDF change is set to cut the typical annual bill by £38.
British Gas said that it was not changing its gas charges because, although there had been some short-term falls in the cost of gas, the longer term trend in wholesale prices was upward. It said it bought its energy in advance.
The company said it was too early to predict what would happen to prices in the future.
The choice to cut the cost of electricity, rather than gas - for which British Gas has more customers - has caused some debate.
"Every drop is welcome but consumers will find it baffling that the company cannot also reduce gas bills as well - especially after the EDF Energy move," said Mark Todd of Energyhelpline.com.
"The maths do not seem to add up so British Gas need to do something on gas as well if they want to look like they are passing on wholesale falls fairly. It may be interesting to note that a 5% gas price cut would have cost British Gas more than double this electricity price cut."
Following suit
Just a few hours after British Gas dropped its electricity prices, SSE - which runs Southern Electric and Scottish Hydro - announced the planned reduction of its gas price in late March.
Some 3.5 million customers would see their typical annual gas bill fall by £28, SSE said.
"Virtually all of the gas being supplied to customers this winter was bought some time ago, but some of the gas that will be supplied to customers from the spring onwards has been purchased since the period of lower wholesale prices began," it said.
"Having analysed and considered the position for some time, SSE is able to announce this reduction in household prices."
The company raised gas prices by 18% and electricity prices by 11% in September.
Adam Scorer, of watchdog Consumer Focus, said that companies would react differently depending on how they expected wholesale prices to change. But he said any drops in wholesale costs should be reflected in the price the consumer paid.
full article
The moves come a day after EDF Energy announced plans to cut its domestic gas tariff by an average of 5% owing to low energy use during the mild winter.
The price cuts will add pressure on the rest of the major suppliers to cut their tariffs as wholesale prices dip.
British Gas said the average annual domestic bill would fall by £24.
"We want to keep prices as low as possible for our customers. Household budgets are stretched, and we are doing everything we can to help our customers keep their bills down," said Ian Peters of British Gas.
"This price reduction means British Gas is once again offering the cheapest standard electricity, on average, of any major supplier."
The price cut comes after a 16% rise in electricity prices and an 18% rise in gas prices for British Gas customers in August.
Future costs
The company said that 5.3 million customers on variable tariffs, including those on dual-fuel deals, would benefit from the price cut.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
It may be interesting to note that a 5% gas price cut would have cost British Gas more than double this electricity price cut”
Mark Todd Energyhelpline.com
The reduction comes into effect ahead of the EDF gas price cut which comes into force on 7 February. The EDF change is set to cut the typical annual bill by £38.
British Gas said that it was not changing its gas charges because, although there had been some short-term falls in the cost of gas, the longer term trend in wholesale prices was upward. It said it bought its energy in advance.
The company said it was too early to predict what would happen to prices in the future.
The choice to cut the cost of electricity, rather than gas - for which British Gas has more customers - has caused some debate.
"Every drop is welcome but consumers will find it baffling that the company cannot also reduce gas bills as well - especially after the EDF Energy move," said Mark Todd of Energyhelpline.com.
"The maths do not seem to add up so British Gas need to do something on gas as well if they want to look like they are passing on wholesale falls fairly. It may be interesting to note that a 5% gas price cut would have cost British Gas more than double this electricity price cut."
Following suit
Just a few hours after British Gas dropped its electricity prices, SSE - which runs Southern Electric and Scottish Hydro - announced the planned reduction of its gas price in late March.
Some 3.5 million customers would see their typical annual gas bill fall by £28, SSE said.
"Virtually all of the gas being supplied to customers this winter was bought some time ago, but some of the gas that will be supplied to customers from the spring onwards has been purchased since the period of lower wholesale prices began," it said.
"Having analysed and considered the position for some time, SSE is able to announce this reduction in household prices."
The company raised gas prices by 18% and electricity prices by 11% in September.
Adam Scorer, of watchdog Consumer Focus, said that companies would react differently depending on how they expected wholesale prices to change. But he said any drops in wholesale costs should be reflected in the price the consumer paid.
full article
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