British Gas to create 2,600 green jobs to roll out smart meters

British Gas has unveiled plans to create 2,600 skilled new jobs by 2012. The new recruits will lead the roll-out of smart meter technology across Britain - the biggest revolution in home energy use for decades.

The announcement comes as British Gas opens its new Energy Academy in Leicester, which will train the engineers of the future - including the smart energy experts who will install British Gas smart meters in millions of homes.

Phil Bentley, Managing Director of British Gas, said: "British Gas is committed to making our customers' homes the greenest in Europe - cutting their carbon emissions and fuel bills. And we're leading the roll out of smart meters. Today's announcement of 2,600 new jobs by 2012 shows we are creating skilled green jobs in Britain and training the experts who will help customers become more energy efficient in the future.

"At our new British Gas Energy Academy in Leicester we are investing in the people, the skills and the energy technologies of the future."

The 2,100 new smart energy experts, who will install smart meters, will also help householders understand how smart meters give them the control to cut their energy use, reduce their carbon footprint, and save money on their fuel bills.

As well as installing smart meters, they will be able to:

Advise customers on the range of tariffs available - such as time-of-use tariffs, which reward customers for using energy at off-peak times

Conduct energy efficiency audits of customers' homes

Give tailored advice on measures that could cut energy use, such as insulation

Help customers learn about ways of generating their own energy

Install and maintain the low-carbon microgeneration technologies of the future

The announcement of 2,600 new jobs at British Gas is in addition to the 1,500 new green jobs the company announced earlier this year.