UK Shadow Energy Minister Wants to Speed Up Smart Meter Rollout
Posted on February 2, 2010 at 9:43 am
Last week at the Smart Grid Summit UK conference, I asked my fellow speaker, Charles Hendry, what he thought of the current UK smart meter policy. Mr. Hendry is a Minister of Parliament and the “shadow” Energy Minister of the Conservative Party. In the UK, the party not in power appoints its own shadow cabinet ministers to provide a counterpoint to the actual ministers and to prepare for their own administrations, should they get elected (the UK will be holding elections in May 2010).
Mr. Hendry said he would like to see the Government speed up the smart meter rollout as much as possible. He gave three reasons that acceleration completion by three years to 2017 would make a lot of sense. First, the UK has a goal of eliminating “fuel poverty” by November 2016, so that all UK citizens are able to pay their electric and gas bills. He feels smart meters would help people better understand and manage their energy use and, accordingly, help achieve this goal.
Second, the UK is forecasting power generation shortages in 2017 based on the current installed base, expected retirements, and forecasted load growth. Demand response is the most cost-effective way to avoid power shortages.
Third, the UK will be bringing on its first new nuclear plant, and will have much more wind power by then. Smart meters allow for pricing options that let consumers save by reducing the peak – taking maximum advantage of low- or no-emission baseload energy such as nuclear – and using smart appliances that turn on only when certain sources, such as wind power are available. This works for electric vehicles too.
I mentioned to the Shadow Minister that we have experience in other countries and states – e.g. Ontario (Canada), Texas, California, and Victoria (Australia) – that are completing their rollouts in about four years, so 2017 is readily achievable in the UK with the right political consensus. Mr. Hendry said the experience of others would be important in ensuring the UK gets it right. He asked for eMeter’s participation in the stakeholder process.
I assured him we were there to help.
Who looks in their utility cupboard every day to see the gas meter and understands how much they have spent? I think Smart Meters are a good idea and can help people. I found a video about Energy Smart Meters which explains the basics. Smart Meters will monitor electricity consumption and help to understanding where to save money and reducing carbon emissions. Simple as that! Why it is not worth spending money?