A smart meter could give you peace of mind if the money is tight
At one of the regular in-person session, a landlord approached the Green Doctors team and shared the challenges her low-income tenant was bearing due to the increasing energy cost. Following a home visit to the resident she discussed her struggle with utility bill and her inability to contain the same.
The Green Doctor suggested getting a smart meter. With a smart meter, she could see how much energy she is using – and what it costs – on an in-home display. This could take some of the guesswork out of balancing her budget.
Here are some of the reasons why people want them:
Tracking your energy usage: Smart meters can help you save energy, but it’s not automatic. Many people find the in-home display useful. It gives you more information about your energy use. This could help you work out how to save energy around the home
Say goodbye to estimated bills: Having a smart meter means you get a bill based on how much energy you used – not an estimate
Convenience and Independence: With a smart meter, your gas and electricity readings are sent directly to your energy supplier. It’s secure and no other information is sent. This means no more digging around in a cupboard or getting on a ladder to read the meter
Prepay smart meters: If you’re on a prepayment meter, you can get a smart meter too. With a prepay smart meter you can top up when and where it suits you – online, on your mobile, or at the shops
Accessible in-home display: There is also an accessible version of the in-home display called an accessible in-home display (AIHD). These are available from some suppliers. They have larger buttons and can read information out loud. An AIHD could be helpful if you:
- are blind or partially sighted
- have difficulties using your hands or wrists
- have difficulties with memory loss
The low-income tenant was made aware of how a smart meter and in-home display show how much energy has been used, and enable accurate not estimated bills. Additionally, the device directly sent the utility reading to the energy supplier so she shouldn’t have to- very handy!
You can find out more by:
Visiting the Smart Energy GB website
Applying for a Green Doctor energy consultation
Watch the video to learn more about the benefits of Smart Meter.
* Some homes can’t get a smart meter yet but will be able to get one before the end of the rollout. Your energy supplier can tell you if you can have one. They can also tell you how soon you can get one installed.
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