MP visits Stockport company in forefront of Smart Metering technology
On Friday Stockport MP Ann Coffey visited Landis+Gyr Ltd, a local company which manufactures “smart meters”- the latest technology designed to help people monitor how much energy they use at home.
Smart meters and real-time displays can equip homes with a small visual display unit which shows consumers exactly how much gas or electricity they are using, as they use it – and how much it costs. The government has put aside £9.75 million to test out smart meters and real-time displays and if it shows that this technology gives good value for money then it could be rolled out more widely. The hope is that smart meters will be effective in encouraging people to cut down energy consumption. and it has been shown to work well in, for example, Canada.
Ann Coffey said; “If we could actually see how much electricity and gas we are using on our appliances at home, then I think we would be much more motivated to save energy. There are lots of things we can do to cut our energy bills. These smart meters with real-time displays are just one way to provide households with the information they need to reduce energy bills and help the environment at the same time.”
In July 2006 the government published “The Energy Challenge”, an energy review which sets out the long-term goals for energy policy, including; putting the UK on the path to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by the year 2050; maintaining reliable energy supplies; and ensuring every home is adequately and affordably heated.
Being more energy-efficient is an important part of this. The Energy Review contained a number of proposals about way domestic gas and electricity is metered and about the need for clearer information in our energy bills.
Ann Coffey continued; “Smart metering is amongst the proposals the government put forward in its Energy Review last year, and I was delighted to visit Landis+Gyr in Stockport, who are at the forefront of this technology. It was interesting to see these gadgets for myself”.
Dave Robinson, Business Development Manager, Landis+Gyr, demonstrating a real-time visual display unit to Ann Coffey at their manufacturing unit in Orion Business Park, Bird Hall Lane, Stockport SK3 0RT at 11.15 am on Friday 12th January
