Page 7 - Gi March 2019 - Flipbook

industry & government news

GAS AND ELECTRICITY SMART METER COSTS

COULD RISE EVEN FURTHER, MPS TOLD

to “escalate” beyond expectations.
Energy Minister Claire Perry
confirmed that an updated cost benefit
analysis was planned for around the
middle of this year, adding that the 25
per cent of households that now have
a smart meter would allow for a “much
better analysis” of the benefits.
Asked by Caroline Flint why data
from the 11 million installed meters
had not been analysed to provide
answers as to “whether or not smart
meters are making any real difference
against a backdrop of increasing low
levels of energy usage amongst the
COSTS ARE GOING UP FOR THE ROLL-OUT public”, Ms Perry answered: “I think
that’s a really important point and I
THE INCREASING cost of the smart had since increased by at least half a think that’s exactly what we want this
meter rollout to households could rise billion pounds or the equivalent of an year’s analysis to look at.
even further, a consumer group has extra £17 per household. “I agree ... because we’ve had energy
warned MPs. According to The Independent, Ms Vyas efficiency improvements that have
Citizens Advice Head of Future said the extra £17 figure could become driven down overall savings but also
Energy Services Dhara Vyas told “potentially even greater”, adding: “We trying to understand and see how we
the Business, Energy and Industrial have been asking the department for an could improve reductions in energy
Strategy Committee that there needed updated cost benefit analysis. consumption should be a real focus of
to be a “real focus” on an updated costs “There is a real information gap here the programme going forward.”
benefit analysis of the programme. and it really impacts upon our ability to Up to 53 million smart meters, which
Late last year, the National Audit do our job as watchdog.” will replace traditional electricity and
Office (NAO) said the Department She added: “I think there should gas meters in homes and businesses,
for Business, Energy and Industrial be a real focus on doing a new cost were due to be installed across
Strategy’s (BEIS) latest 2016 estimate benefit analysis.” Britain by the end of 2020 to meet the
that the programme will cost £11 billion In November, the NAO warned that the government’s target, saving households
– the equivalent of £374 per dual fuel government’s target of installing smart an average of £18 a year between 2013
household – “under-estimates the true meters in every home by 2020 will not and 2030 after they have met the costs
cost of rolling out smart meters”, which be met and the cost of the rollout is likely of the programme.

MAKE COOKERS HYDROGEN GAS READY,

EXPERTS TELL MANUFACTURERS

A SENIOR FIGURE in a major gas manufacturers of gas-powered home
infrastructure firm has called on appliances should make their products
appliance manufacturers to make ‘H-ready’, meaning they can run on
products ready to be powered by hydrogen gas once the changes have
hydrogen gas, reports LeedsLive. been made.
Energy companies and authorities Mr Owen told the West Yorkshire
plan to convert existing natural gas Combined Authority (WYCA) Green
mains in Leeds and West Yorkshire to Economy Panel: “A point we’re making
100 per cent hydrogen gas by 2035, in to the manufacturers is that it would be
what has been described as the world’s good if appliances were H-ready, like
largest clean energy project. when TVs were HD-ready.”
Speaking on behalf of Northern It is hoped that the scheme could be
Gas Networks (NGN), Keith Owen rolled out across the north of England,
told a meeting of regional politicians before eventually providing 12 million THE FUTURE OF GAS RELIES
and environmental experts that homes with cleaner energy. ON H-READY APPLIANCES

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News.indd 2 14/02/2019 12:48