In a bid to lighter the burden of increasing energy bills and enhance the reliability of existing energy tariffs, the government revealed fresh proposals this week. It’s predicted that these initiatives could collectively save the UK up to £50 billion.
What do the proposals entail?
The proposals outline new minimum standards to further protect the cyber security of users and improve grid stability. This means better-protected consumer data, and a more reliable National Grid.
As well as these proposals, there will now be legal minimum requirements for smart energy appliances. This aims to improve consumer trust in these technologies, helping more households to become ‘smart’ energy households.
The proposals aim to improve access to optimal energy deals in the following ways:
- Reducing pressure on the electricity grid
- Creating a potential 24,000 jobs and saving up to £50 billion
- Helping consumers benefit from the best energy deals via a smart energy system
- Stronger protection of customer data
Why is consumer confidence in energy-efficient appliances crucial?
Smart energy appliances allow consumers greater control over their energy. Devices such as smart meters, for example, allow users to monitor and adjust their energy consumption, whether by altering habits or using energy during off-peak hours. The result? A cheaper energy bill!
Encouraging the use of smart meters has wider benefits for the UK and global climate. Encouraging the use of energy during off-peak hours means that there will be less strain on the national energy grid to meet high demand. This further reduces reliance on backup fossil fuels and the necessity for new infrastructure development.
Why does this matter?
Burning less fossil fuels has one significant benefit- reducing harm to the environment. These proposals will particularly provide cost savings for consumers on tariffs where energy is cheaper during off-peak periods.
These proposed measures will make it easier for all energy consumers to make savings. The proposals encourage greater compatibility between brands, so that any tariff can be used with any smart energy appliance. Currently, only specific brands of appliances are compatible with specific tariffs. This means that securing optimal tariffs will be significantly more straightforward for consumers, irrespective of the brand they choose.
“Smart devices empower consumers with smart meters to seamlessly leverage the most economical tariffs for charging their vehicles or heating their homes. These latest measures are poised to assist families in securing the best possible deals through their smart devices.”
- Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance
Furthermore, these proposals will require suppliers to treat all customers fairly and to establish a formal customer complaints procedure.
What does this mean for the UK?
Ultimately, these initiatives aim to lower household energy bills, and save on UK spending on the Grid. The use of smart meters is predicted to create 10,000 new jobs, plus a further 14,000 if the technology is exported. These proposals are also predicted to increase GDP by £1.3 billion.
These new proposals will give consumers the power to easily compare services whilst ensuring they are not unfairly locked in or out of contracts. The plans will also address the issue of some tariffs only working with certain brands of appliance.
Reducing your energy bills
Having a smart meter means you can access cheaper, off-peak energy tariffs which can save you around £900 a year. But smart meters aren’t the only way to shed hundreds off of your energy bill. There’s several government-backed grants that you may be eligible for.
This includes:
The ECO 4 Grant: this offers measures such insulation, heating systems, and the installation of solar panels for renewable energy. If you qualify, these measures will be installed completely free of charge. They are designed to increase the energy efficiency of your home, meaning it will be cheaper to run your home.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme: this offers financial support to upgrade your boiler to a more efficient model, helping to cut your costs.
The Great British Insulation Scheme: this scheme installs insulation measures, such as cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation, and loft insulation. All of these help maximise the heating efficiency of your home, meaning less waste and cheaper bills.
You can easily check your eligibility here:
