For consumers, getting all the information you want from your power company can sometimes be a frustrating, time-consuming experience. U.K. Energy Secretary Chris Huhne wants to change that. This week he announced that soon the U.K. energy regulator Ofgem will be able to require energy companies to provide consumer redress, along with other important consumer protections…

While power companies do many things well, improvements are definitely needed. For example, last week eMeter chief regulatory officer Chris King and I could not find clear and specific consumer information about U.K. electricity prices. There were plenty of estimates of annual bill amounts, but no website gave the details. We knew from experience that energy bills include these components:

• Monthly charges
• Initial prices per kWh
• Prices for usage above a threshold

However these details were not available online — including on sites run by U.K. energy retailers, the government and nonprofit organizations.

Would you choose a gas station based on estimated annual bills? How would they know how — or how much — you drive? Electricity is similar.

Ofgem’s new powers would require retailers to provide clear bills to consumers. This would make it easier to for consumers to compare prices — if the prices are easily available.

Here’s how smart meters fit in: They can make it easier for energy suppliers to provide the kind of clear information consumers need in order to make better energy usage choices. Smart meters can help consumers save money with off-peak discounts.

The U.K. is pushing forward to enable these benefits. As we noted last week, Great Britain is planning to take the essential step of settling wholesale markets using half-hourly metered data for residential and small commercial customers. This enables consumers to receive the savings they create by shifting use to off-peak times.

Earlier UK research found that settlement using half-hourly data for larger commercial customers could save up to £35 million over five years. The potential benefits of expanding HH settlement to all meters would undoubtedly be vastly larger.

Other nations (including the U.S.) will also see similar economic benefits from the smart grid. But as Chris King recently explained, accomplishing this takes strong commitment — and vision — from policymakers.