Understanding of smart meters increases 5 per cent

Understanding about smart meters and their benefits has risen by 5 percentage points in the last six months.

The latest figures from the campaign behind the smart meter rollout, Smart Energy GB show that less than a third of the total population (30 per cent) have an understanding about smart meters and their benefits as the full rollout is set to begin but this has increased from 25 per cent in February 2016.

The report outlines that the understanding of smart meters respondents were required to demonstrate included that a smart meter can only be installed by an energy supplier, the meter ends estimated monthly billing and that they convert energy consumption into costs in near real-time.

Londoners are least aware about smart meters compared to other areas in the UK (25 per cent). The East of England and Wales showed higher levels of knowledge about smart meters, 35 per cent and 34 per cent respectively.

However, the campaign’s fourth smart energy outlook also found that 79 per cent of people who already have smart meters would recommend them to others, a similar proportion (80 per cent) are taking steps to reduce energy use and in-home-displays (IHDs) are having a positive impact on energy management.

Smart Energy GB chief executive Sacha Deshmukh said: “Millions of households are already benefiting from smart meters, and our latest research demonstrates that people around the country are using the new technology in their homes to get their gas and electricity under control.

“Today’s report also makes clear the importance of the simple handheld display unit offered to every household when their smart meter is fitted. These are offered by every energy supplier at no extra cost, and mean that everyone can see what they’re spending at a glance – including those who do not have easy access to the internet at home.”

IHDs are offered to every home when a smart meter is installed and show near real-time spending on energy in pounds and pence.

The new figures show that 83 per cent of people are taking up the offer of an IHD and nearly nine in 10 (87 per cent) of those with one say that they have a better idea of what they’re spending on energy, compared to 69 per cent of those who do not have one. 78 per cent of those with an IHD also say they check it regularly.

The research is carried out twice a year by Populus and surveys more than 10,000 people across the UK.

The full rollout begins this month and offers every household a smart meter by 2020. More than 3.5 million new devices have now been fitted.