Smart Metering Early Learning Project and Small-Scale Behaviour Trials
The government has used the foundation stage of the Smart Metering Implementation Programme to carry out an extensive programme of research into how best to deliver consumer benefits through effective engagement. This has taken the form of a series of research projects, known collectively as the Smart Metering Early Learning Project (ELP); in addition the government has funded some Small-scale Behaviour Trials.
Documents
Details
Details of the Early Learning Project and Small Scale Behaviour Trials reports are as follows:
Policy conclusions report
Smart Metering Implementation Programme: DECC’s policy conclusions - Early Learning Project and Small-scale Behaviour Trials
This report summarises the key findings from DECC’s programme of ‘early learning’ smart meter research and small-scale trials, and sets them in the context of further progress, since the research was conducted, to establish the delivery framework for smart metering. This report also provides the government’s conclusions about future consumer engagement policy and delivery priorities, and the steps to implement them.
Synthesis of ELP research findings
Smart Metering Early Learning Project: synthesis report
DECC commissioned this synthesis research to provide an initial analysis of progress to date and to learn how householders can best be engaged in order to benefit from the roll-out, in particular by saving energy. This report summarises and analyses evidence from a range of sources, including the three ELP research projects below on how GB householders engage with smart metering, GB and international evidence on smart metering and energy feedback, and evidence from public health behaviour change programmes. The annexes to the synthesis report have been published in an accompanying document.
Supporting research
Smart Metering Early Learning Project: consumer survey and qualitative research
This research report presents findings from a national quantitative survey (within Great Britain) with domestic smart meter customers and a matched sample of legacy (traditional) meter customers. Follow-up in-depth interviews were also conducted with some of the smart meter customers which had taken part in the survey (conducted by Ipsos MORI). Appendices to the main report, a technical report and appendices to the technical report have been published in three accompanying documents.
Smart Metering Early Learning Project: prepayment qualitative research
This research report presents findings from qualitative research with energy customers exploring their experiences and views of smart prepayment (conducted by Creative Research on behalf of DECC).
Smart Metering Early Learning Project: Domestic Energy Consumption Analysis
The Domestic Energy Consumption Analysis project developed and implemented a robust methodology to quantify the impact of early smart-type meters on household energy consumption (conducted by DECC statisticians).
Smart Meter Small-scale Behaviour Trials synthesis report
In parallel to the ELP, DECC has funded a set of Small-scale Behaviour trials. These were designed to test community-based consumer engagement approaches to reduce household energy consumption which might be deployed alongside the roll-out of smart meters. This research report presents the findings of an evaluation of five small scale community based consumer engagement behaviour change trials (conducted by MEL on behalf of DECC).