In-home displays better at cutting energy usage than phone apps

In-home displays for smart meters are better at encouraging households to lower their energy usage than smart phone apps, government-backed trials have suggested.

The trials were conducted by two big six suppliers and involved nearly 10,000 customers for their entire duration. Around half used a conventional in-home display (IHD) and the rest were given access to a smart phone app with similar functions.

Gas and electricity consumption was slightly higher among those with a phone app. However, the difference was only statistically significant for gas usage in one of the trials, which was 2.6 per cent greater on average.

In a document outlining the findings and its conclusions, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said it “cannot be confident that alternatives to IHDs would have similar or better impacts in terms of supporting consumers reduce their energy consumption.”

Its Behavioural Insights Team found that IHDs were “more widely suitable across the suppliers’ population”, “tended to be used by more members of the household” and may have encouraged greater energy saving because of its “always-present feedback”.

Nevertheless, BEIS said some features of smart phone apps, such as push messages on consumption alerts, were indicated to be “beneficial in engaging consumers”.

“Given this overall conclusion we do not propose amending the existing IHD mandate,” it added. “Suppliers will still be required to offer domestic consumers an IHD, at no additional charge, when their smart meter is installed.”

Jeremy Yapp, head of flexible energy systems at trade body BEAMA, commented: “These findings vindicate BEAMA’s long-standing position that including an offer of an IHD within a smart metering system is the most effective way to help consumers use energy more efficiently, save money, reduce carbon emissions and take control of their energy use.

“We also welcome the data from the trials highlighting some additional features that may be help to engage consumers. IHDs are modern, cutting-edge technology that are far more advanced than the models available a decade ago. The government is right to encourage continued innovation in this area and we expect to see continued advances in this technology in the coming years.”

Earlier today (16 September), BEIS revealed that the deadline for the smart meter rollout could be extended to 2024.