SMART METERS

That this House welcomes the Government's announcement to equip all homes with smart meters by 2020; notes that smart meters will be a significant step forward in reducing the UK's energy use, cutting carbon emissions, making headway in the Government's pledge to create a smart grid and, further, significantly saving customers money; further notes that smart meters will end the need for utility companies to dispatch meter readers, estimate bills and employ large numbers of call centre staff, resulting in cost savings that can responsibly be passed on to customers; and looks forward to smart meters allowing customers increased awareness of their energy consumption and enabling an estimated two to three per cent. saving of their energy use each year, thereby cutting £100 million from UK bills by 2020 and reducing national carbon dioxide emissions by 2.6 million tonnes.