Policy paper

Smart meters: unlocking the future

This document highlights how smart meters can support innovation in new consumer technologies and services.

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

Documents

Smart meters: unlocking the future

Details

The smart metering roll-out in Great Britain creates a new platform for innovation. It will increase the level of detail and improve the accuracy of energy consumption data and tariff (price) information in the domestic, microbusiness, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) sectors, as well as provide new ways to access it.

This data can:

  • help energy consumers understand and manage their energy use in a better way
  • support more cost-effective management of the energy system, having potential uses by many different actors in the energy sector
  • create new opportunities in areas unrelated to energy such as health and social care

The document looks at how data available through GB smart meter infrastructure could help unlock new technologies and services associated with:

  • demand side response
  • time-of-use tariffs
  • electric vehicles
  • switching
  • micro-generation
  • energy efficiency
  • health and social care

The Smart systems and flexibility plan outlines actions the government, Ofgem and industry will take.

Read the Smart Metering Implementation Programme: Progress Report for 2018.

Updates to this page

Published 31 December 2018

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