Smart meters are a key part of the clean energy system of the future. They can help you to be more efficient in the home through monitoring your energy usage and also benefit the electricity system as a whole.
If you suspect that your home is not as energy-efficient as it could be, the data that your smart meter provides can help you see the impact of making simple changes: whether that’s swapping bulbs for energy-saving LEDs, or using the tumble dryer less often or insulating your home. You’ll be able to quickly see if you’re using less energy. Knowing how much energy is being used each day can help you to reduce your carbon emissions too.
Smart Meters provide the possibility of introducing time of use tariffs. It would incentivise shifting electricity use away from the peaks to better tie in with this energy generation picture. It may mean starting the dishwasher just before going to bed, setting the washing machine to start in the middle of the day when solar generation is at its height, or scheduling the car to charge in the morning when electricity is cheaper. This gradual flattening of peaks can hugely cut the carbon intensity of the grid by reducing the need for fossil fuel power plants that lie idle outside of peak times.
From reducing how much energy is wasted to helping the grid become truly responsive, smart meters are essential building blocks for the creation of a greener energy network that can maximise the use of renewable energy sources.