Minister in energy meters pledge
5th July 2010
The Labour Government's plan to have 47 million "smart" meters installed in 26 million homes by 2020 has been branded "pathetically unambitious" by Energy Minister Charles Hendry.
The minister said he wants to accelerate the roll out of the project.
The gas and electricity meters display to customers how much energy they are using, as well as send the energy company the data.
During questions at the Commons, Mr Hendry told Alec Shelbrooke, the Tory MP for Elmet and Rothwell: "We are absolutely determined to move forward rather more quickly with smart metering. The position which we inherited to roll out smart metering by 2020 was pathetically unambitious. We are determined to bring that forward by some years."
The meters will help reduce fuel poverty and move Britain towards a low-carbon economy, according to Mr Hendry.
He also said that in Northern Ireland, where the meters are already being used, people who had expensive pre-payment meters are paying less for their bills than the normal tariff.
Mr Hendry added: "That is the sort of gain we want to achieve for people right across the United Kingdom."
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