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London - As rising energy bills anger British consumers, a government-led infrastructure project is sparking hopes that the public will soon be able to take more control over costs - by using smart meters.
In a £12bn project, 53m smart meters will be installed in homes and business across Britain by 2020, making consumers aware of how much it is costing them to use devices such as washing machines, televisions or tumble dryers in real time.
The growing cost of using energy at home has blazed onto the political battlefield ahead of a 2015 election.
Price freeze
Consumers have been outraged by a flurry of price rise announcements this winter, prompting Britain's opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband to promise an energy price freeze for 20 months if he wins power.
The average home energy bill has more than doubled since 2004, hitting £1 300 this year, according to British energy watchdog Ofgem.
Chief operating officer of industry association Energy UK Lawrence Slade said: "Let's be honest here, everyone understands pounds and pence, but not all of us - and I count myself in this sometimes - understand kilowatt-hours."
The government estimates the average British household can save around £24 per year by 2020 and £39 by 2030 by reducing their energy consumption using a smart meter.
Consumption
About 177 000 domestic meters have already been installed and around half of the users surveyed by private energy comparer uSwitch said the devices had helped them to cut down on energy consumption.
The "Big Six" are Centrica's British Gas, EDF Energy, RWE npower, SSE, Scottish Power and E.ON.
Putting consumers in charge of their energy use can help suppliers regain trust as bills are calculated in a transparent manner. Indeed, the uSwitch survey found that 10% of smart meter users now trusted their energy suppliers more said.
In a £12bn project, 53m smart meters will be installed in homes and business across Britain by 2020, making consumers aware of how much it is costing them to use devices such as washing machines, televisions or tumble dryers in real time.
The growing cost of using energy at home has blazed onto the political battlefield ahead of a 2015 election.
Price freeze
Consumers have been outraged by a flurry of price rise announcements this winter, prompting Britain's opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband to promise an energy price freeze for 20 months if he wins power.
The average home energy bill has more than doubled since 2004, hitting £1 300 this year, according to British energy watchdog Ofgem.
Chief operating officer of industry association Energy UK Lawrence Slade said: "Let's be honest here, everyone understands pounds and pence, but not all of us - and I count myself in this sometimes - understand kilowatt-hours."
The government estimates the average British household can save around £24 per year by 2020 and £39 by 2030 by reducing their energy consumption using a smart meter.
Consumption
About 177 000 domestic meters have already been installed and around half of the users surveyed by private energy comparer uSwitch said the devices had helped them to cut down on energy consumption.
The "Big Six" are Centrica's British Gas, EDF Energy, RWE npower, SSE, Scottish Power and E.ON.
Putting consumers in charge of their energy use can help suppliers regain trust as bills are calculated in a transparent manner. Indeed, the uSwitch survey found that 10% of smart meter users now trusted their energy suppliers more said.
