Enigin Update - Questions raised about Smart Meter Energy Savings
IN a report from management consultancy Accenture, discounts of 10% to 20% will be demanded by customers in return for allowing energy firms to use smart meters to regulate their energy use.
After asking more than 9,000 consumers in 17 countries, Accenture found only 16% would give electricity providers remote control of their household appliances. Most wanted steep price discounts and the ability to override the energy companies.
Almost half of consumers would be put off from joining these electricity management programmes, if their bills rose as a result.
The findings raise questions over the actual savings that might accrue from the government's planned £10 billion programme to replace the UK's 47 million gas and electricity meters with so-called smart or networked meters.
The authors of the report, Understanding Consumer Preferences in Energy Efficiency, found 35% of respondents wanted a 20% discount for giving energy suppliers remote control of their appliances, while 24% said they would give it up for a 10% discount. With 71% not trusting utility firms' energy saving plans.
Customers are reluctant to disclose their energy use data to energy suppliers feeling that it could be used against them and as a potential invasion of their privacy.
Enigin Distributors around the world offer commerce, industry and public sector organisations their real time energy monitor Eniscope which is far more then a smart meter - allowing real time energy management with clear understandable graphic displays.
