I first saw an electricity display device at the sustainable housing development Bedzed in Sutton, England around 5 years ago. The display meters monitor electricity consumption in real time. The benefit is that the consumer can see precisely what their electricity consumption is.
A more advanced smart meter is currently being developed which would monitor both consumption and production. The Government has now recognised the potential of the smart meter in helping to reduce electricity consumption through better awareness of electricity use and also its role in plans to expand micro-scale generation of electricity at individual households. Technologies such as solar photovoltaic cells and wind turbines have the capability to export electricity back to the grid if they produce surplus to the needs of an individual household.
Last month, The Independent reported that communications groups will be invited to tender for a national contract to run networking and data-processing associated with the smart meters. Companies such as BT, Vodaphone and Logica are reported to be in the running.
This week Intelligent Sustainable Energy (ISE) announced that it is to make electricity meters that recognise which domestic appliance is operating at any time. The University of Oxford founded company CTO Jim Donaldson said “the aim is to recognise the majority of appliances in the average house uniquely, and how much electricity they are using… This will help people understand where their energy is being used – like an itemised phone bill.”
The Energy Retail Association (ERA) said that “If given the necessary mandate by government, the industry will invest in introducing smart meters, and aim to ensure that after a 10 year roll-out plan, every home in Britain has a more accurate method of energy billing. The industry is very keen to begin”. More information can be found on the ERA website.
