GTC Milestone for SMART Meters
With strong incentives for all involved parties, GTC pioneered the installation of Smart capable Meters on their independent gas networks. In January 2012 GTC installed 1,000th smart meters and to date has been contracted to connect a further 7,000 smart meters, more than two years ahead of the start of the government’s mandated roll-out programme.
Smart Meters have a positive environmental impact as they have the ability to make users aware of their energy consumption. Barratt Homes took advantage of this new offering and was among the first to have Smart capable gas Meters connected to GTC’s independent network, on its Dukes Park development at Bilston, Wolverhampton.
Graydon Worthing, Sales Director at Barratt West Midlands, says: “We were very keen for GTC to install Smart Meters in the new homes at Bilston. Installing the meters has positive effects all round. It helps us towards credits to achieve compliance under the Code for Sustainable Homes. They enable our customers to save money on their utilities bills. And of course, it is the environmentally responsible thing to do.”
Housebuilders who have appreciated the cost and efficiency of using an independent distribution gas transporter (IGT) are now able to combine these benefits with the opportunity to offer smart meters to new home-owners.
Clive Linsdell, Managing Director - GTC, “Our house building customers value the greater flexibility they have with us, as an independent infrastructure provider, and we believe many of our customers will be pleased to obtain the advantages of Smart meters now rather than wait until 2014 when the programme to exchange the existing 50 million non-smart meters fitted in the UK is due to start.
Benefits of SMART Meters
Smart meters bring benefits to house-builders, the environment and homeowners alike:
House-builders
This initiative supports house-builders in meeting their obligations for building lower-carbon homes and in claiming credits towards the Code for Sustainable Homes. Housebuilders can also offer potential buyers the added value and incentive of being able to monitor and reduce their energy usage.
Environment
Any reduction in usage of energy will of course have a positive impact on the environment. This is the main aim of the Government’s initiative, which hopes to change customer behavior by making users aware of their energy consumption and therefore their ability to control usage more effectively.
Homeowners
The two-way communication allowed by smart meters means that gas and electricity meters no longer need to be visited and read in person. The householder benefits from no more estimated bills, more flexible tariffs and the ability to see exactly how much energy is used at any given time. This enables a reduction in any power wastage, resulting in lower bills; particularly vital for the estimated 21% of households classed as being in fuel poverty (spending more than 10% of their income on fuel to maintain satisfactory heating)*