Smart meters ‘can help people handle costs’

Smart meters could help energy customers to handle their debt management, it has been suggested.

Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said that the technology can help homeowners to “keep an eye” on their fuel usage and reduce the amount of energy that is wasted “unnecessarily”.

He noted that many households are unaware of what they are paying for gas and electricity, adding: “Smart meters offer a solution to this problem … we need a commitment from government to roll them out as quickly as possible.”

Recently, Mr Sellwood claimed that the UK needs to take “bold” action to combat energy wastage over the coming years.

Recommendations that have been made by the Energy Saving Trust to help meet carbon emission reduction targets include filling 7.3 million cavity walls with insulation.

The body also noted that in Britain, there are 12.9 million lofts that do not have the appropriate depth of insulation installed.

By Jamie Price