There is a lot of talk around at the moment about gas and electricity smart meters and that you can now get a free smart meter if you sign up for the right online tariff with a gas and electricity provider online. What is a smart meter and why should you get one installed in your family house?
With a smart meter you can have electric, gas and dual fuel bills that are more accurate than the conventional estimated bills. Having one will also let you check the exact amount of gas and electricity that your home is using whenever you want. The smart meter records the energy usage amounts several times each day and this means that the gas and electricity bills that you pay will be accurate rather than estimates. Using a smart meter is also designed to cut the carbon emission that your house uses and reduce your carbon footprint which everybody should be aware of in the current environmental climate. Customers that use a smart meter can view the gas and electricity they use with ease and make changes to their lifestyle if they are using more than they should which not only helps the environment but also saves users money.
It's estimated that within the next ten years every house in the UK should have one fitted and estimated billing will no longer be in use. The amount of money you can actually save when using a smart meter varies but I have heard reports that customers can save up to 20% on their fuel bills. This is however dependant on how much notice is paid to the readings by home owners and making an effort to reduce unnecessary wastage in order to reduce the amount they pay, a smart meter on its own is unlikely to reduce your bills