Today's announcement by the UK government on smart meters tells only half the story about their potential. They have the capability to change the way in which we interact with our energy suppliers in the same way that online services have empowered us in our dealings with our banks and other retailers.
Smart meters will not only let us monitor our energy usage, but will strengthen our hand when dealing with the utility that provides our electricity. I look forward to using the new meter to provide me with up to the minute pricing information, so I, and not my supply company, can determine the rate and level of service that I require. I want to be able to sell home-generated electricity to the company that offers me the best price at the time, and to use the meter to run appliances in my home at the time that best balances the needs of my family with the immediate cost of the power required.
If, however, supply companies, and the government, see smart meters simply as a cheaper way to sell electricity within current market structures, and not to empower their customers, then they will be just another marketing gimmick.
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