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Billing and Metering Consultation

The Energy Review underlined the Government's commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.  Saving energy is a starting point for meeting both our short and long-term goals, and all sectors of society can play a part by reducing energy consumption.  The Government believes that domestic and business customers are more likely to reduce their energy consumption, both by changing the way in which they use energy and by investing in energy efficiency measures, if they have access to better information about their energy use.  The Review therefore contained proposals to use metering and billing to help reduce energy consumption.  The proposals were:

• to mandate the provision of historical consumption information in graphical form on domestic gas and electricity bills
• to consult on how cost-effectively to improve the frequency with which customers are provided with accurate bills
• to consult on what useful comparative benchmarking information can be provided on bills
• to discuss how best rapidly to roll out visual display devices
• to discuss how to address the barriers to smart metering in the business sector.

The consultation also addresses the need to implement the metering and billing provisions of the Energy Services Directive.  In taking final decisions on metering and billing, the Government will have regard, where appropriate, to the Directive's requirements.

Following this consultation, the Government will issue a response to views expressed by consultees.  Its intention is to make final proposals during 2007.