Smart meter delays could prompt customers to switch gas companies - 03/04/2009
Delays in the roll-out of smart meters could convince more homeowners to compare energy prices and switch companies in pursuit of cheaper rates, reports Reuters.
Smart meters are designed to tackle inflated domestic bills by measuring precise household energy usage and countries such as Italy already have them fitted in 30 million homes.
No decision has yet been made in relation to how a nationwide roll-out will be arranged in the UK, with some energy companies expressing concern over how they will get a return on their investment.
Petter Allison, director of smart metering for British Gas, told the news agency: "If [the government] chooses the regulated way, with bids for regions, then everything would stop because we don't know who would be doing what."
He added that a decision needs to be made in order to initiate the process and enable smart meters to contribute towards reducing the UK's carbon footprint.
The major energy companies have been criticised for failing to implement price reductions that match the scale of last year's increases.
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