Smart metering trial to start

Smart metering of electricity consumption could see householders save up to Euro 500 on their electricity bill.


Energy minister Eamon Ryan yesterday announced the start of a scheme to install a smart electricity meter in every home and business in the country.

Smart meters show residents how much electricity they are using at any given time, while recording the data to allow electricity firms to price the energy accordingly – making it more expensive to use electricity at popular times.

Some models of smart meters even show the cost of using electricity at any given time, allowing householders to choose at which price they will use electricity.

The Euro 1bn scheme, which aims to have a meter in all homes and businesses by 2012, will start by installing the devices in 21,000 homes of ESB customers.

“When customers realise how much they can save, and the carbon reductions that ensue, I believe they will find these meters one of the smartest devices ever installed in their homes,” said Mr Ryan.

“It is a crucial development in energy policy in this country.

“If we can be ahead of the game, we can develop opportunities and truly lead the world in the deployment of this new technology.”

The project will be run by the Commission for Energy Regulation.

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