The smarter way to save on energy

With the Government revealing its plans to install smart meters in all UK homes by 2020, Confused.com calls on the British public to take control of their energy consumption and read their own meters in the meantime.

"With so many people paying estimated bills, the introduction of smart meters will be a welcome change for many households used to paying estimated bills", says Gareth Kloet, head of utilities at Confused.com. "However, the scheme is still 10 years away from completion, so consumers need to replicate some of the functionality that a smart meter brings, as soon as possible. By reading their own meters regularly and passing this to their suppliers, customers will receive accurate bills and ensure that they pay only for the energy they use."

At an estimated cost of £7billion to roll out the smart meters across the UK, it is likely some of the cost will be passed on to the customer; although much of the cost should be met by the suppliers. However, there is evidence to suggest that customers, who become more aware of how much energy they use, will make a greater effort to cut down their usage which is good for their pocket and the environment.

And the benefits don't stop there. Once consumers know how much gas and electricity they use, they can be more confident and efficient about searching for a better tariff.

"Now that energy prices have come down, it is time for people to see if they can save even more by switching to a cheaper tariff or provider. In 2008, energy prices rose by more than 40% which made people more conscious of the amount of energy they use. The Government's plans to install smart meters in all homes is therefore a great idea but people can take a number of practical steps right now to help cut household energy bills by monitoring and reducing usage and simply changing to a cheaper tariff or provider.

Top tips for reading your meter.

Make reading your meter a monthly job (it'll just take a few moments).

Once you have read your meter, make sure you tell your supplier.

Inform your provider either online or with a simple phone call.

Make sure your meters are accessible - for safety reasons you should always be able to turn off your gas supply in an emergency and your shut off tap will be located very near or next to your meter.