Ofgem outlines Smart Meter protection plan

Tuesday, 08 February 2011 09:50

Homeowners who install a Smart Meter to manage their energy consumption are to have their right to switch providers protected, under new proposals published by Ofgem, the Government’s energy regulator.

The new meters will be installed in every home in Britain under a programme led by the Department for Energy and Climate Change, with some properties already being fitted with a Smart Meter.

While the DECC claims that Smart Meters will make it easier to monitor your energy consumption and switch providers, Ofgem is to publish guidelines explicitly protecting customers rights, including the right to switch between payment methods and protection against remote disconnection.

The proposals for the nationwide Smart Meter roll-out end on April 13 and Zoe McLeod, energy expert at Consumer Focus, argues that further data protection measures need to be put in place before then.

“There are still major concerns for consumers around smart meters which must be tackled. The next step must be for suppliers to address the data protection and privacy issues which the introduction of smart meters, and the information they collect, inevitably raise.”
 

Ofgem to investigate home energy market

Following the recent announcements that three major home energy suppliers in the UK are due to raise their bills, Government industry regulator Ofgem has decided to review the market to ensure customers are still getting a fair deal.

Brits to get insulation support under new scheme

The Department for Energy and Climate Change has today announced a new insulation scheme, aimed at improving energy efficiency across the country, with a range of subsided work to be approved from 2012 onwards.

Energy saving tips from ConserveEnergy

A leading energy saving website, ConserveEnergy.co.uk, is warning consumers to start planning now to save money on their energy bills. ConserveEnergy.co.uk has compiled effective and innovative ways to minimise the inflation busting energy price rises.

'Smart scheme must pay dividends for consumers'

Smart meters for gas and electricity ‘must pay dividends for consumers’, Consumer Focus has said. The comments were made in response to a report by the National Audit Office which found ‘major risks’ need to be addressed if the £11.3bn scheme is to achieve value for money.

Average heating bill to rise by £53 this winter

The average UK homeowner will have to pay £473 to heat their house for the winter months of December, January and February, according to new research by energyhelpline.com

 

House Price Index

Energy Bill