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News Release from: BEAMA
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 14 May 2001
Benefits of smart metering in homes
recognised
Patricia Hewitt, the UK's Minister for E-commerce, has hailed the potential benefits of smart metering in homes, encourangement which has been welcomed by trade body BEAMAenergy
The Department of Trade and Industry has announced that Ms Patricia Hewitt, Minister for E-commerce has hailed the potential benefits of smart metering in homes Development of new technology will see electricity and gas meters providing a communication gateway for greater information about energy consumption, for both consumers and utility companies
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 28 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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In future, this technology may also be able to connect homes to the Internet and supply cable TV.
BEAMAenergy, the trade body that groups the companies developing smart metering technology, clearly welcomes the encouragement proffered by Ms.
Hewitt for the implementation of this technology.
BEAMAenergy is also keen to see the acceleration of the installation of intelligent meters to enable the promotion of lower energy consumption and to help alleviate fuel poverty.
BEAMAenergy has agreed to assist wherever possible in the OFGEM consultation process on the future of metering, but is to raise some concerns, voiced by member companies, over delays to DTI part funding plans for smart metering projects.
The deployment of smart meters will bring immediate benefits to consumers, in that they will be able to gain simple feedback through displaying energy use in cash terms.
For the suppliers in the utilities sector, the other benefits include the ability to reduce metering operating costs, and to provide more energy and new services to homes.
Looking to the future, smart metering can be the key to allowing embedded generation in homes, such as photovoltaic (PV) technology being easily integrated into the electricity supply system.
BEAMAenergy and its members believe that, if DTI part-funded, smart metering projects were allowed to proceed in parallel with OFGEM's consultation process, the practical intelligence gained would benefit both the consultation process and the energy companies' ability to advise the Regulator.
The DTI, BEAMAenergy and the utility companies have made great progress over the past twelve months to identify the key benefits of smart metering, and believe the time is right to deploy the technology.
BEAMAenergy and its members believe that it is therefore particularly timely to enable smart metering pilot projects to begin.
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