energy news

British Gas Speeds up Smart Metering


30th March, 2010

British Gas Speeds up Smart Metering

British Gas has today confirmed plans to speed-up its smart meter programme by installing two million smart meters in customers' homes by 2012 in an attempt to enable British householders to take an early advantage of smart meter technology which consists of real time, on-screen information – thus helping to reduce energy use, cut carbon emissions and lower fuel bills.

British Gas, whose parent company is Centrica – a leading integrated energy company, has also unveiled the world-leading companies it will be working with to reach this target – consisting of mobile phone giant, Vodafone; billing systems leader, SAP; software and communications firms, OSIsoft and Trilliant; and global smart meter manufacturer, Landis+Gyr. Plus the Zigbee Smart Energy global wireless home area network standard will be used to connect the in-home devices.

British Gas believes that like all new technology innovations, implementing agreed standards within the industry is a vital step, especially in the highly competitive energy supply market, where over 100,000 customers' change suppliers each week. Therefore, all suppliers will need to be able to operate all smart meters – and that is why British Gas has also declared to share its technical standards with the rest of the industry in an attempt to build momentum for an earlier roll-out, thus beating the Government's target date of 2020.

Phil Bentley, MD of British Gas, Stated:

"At British Gas, we already have the largest smart meter trial in the country. We want all our customers to have smart meters as soon as possible, so they can take advantage of this technology and use it to help them cut their energy use, carbon emissions and fuel bills"



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