(BLOG) Woodbridge, UK: The energy industry is missing a major opportunity to transform the energy market for consumers now that UK smart meter roll out has been delayed. So says Chris Saunders (pictured), CEO of Navetas, who today speaks out for homeowners.
Saunders said: “The news the UK smart meter roll out has been postponed is disappointing for consumers who are still struggling with estimated bills and rising energy costs, but I am not really surprised by the delay given the complexity and burgeoning costs of the roll out.
“It’s unfair for homeowners who will now have to wait even longer for help with their bills. The cost of energy is, of course, a number one concern for them. In the long-term smart meters will ease some of these concerns with accurate billing, but with this delay the majority of people will have to wait until at least 2020 to get the benefits. Consumers need help with their energy usage now, not tomorrow, but nothing is being done to solve this in the short term and as things stand consumers will lose out for several years.
“This delay really highlights how slow the industry has been in looking to other technologies and innovations alongside smart meters. Smart metering plans have dominated our discussions with various stakeholders but there are other, less costly options that should be looked at to help consumers in the short term.
“This is the perfect opportunity for the industry to be more innovative in its approach, to step up and engage with some of the numerous ‘pre-smart’ technology alternatives that are readily available now – not just to help consumers, but also to create differentiation in a competitive market.
“For this opportunity to be taken, and to create real change, pressure needs to be exerted by government, by consumer groups and from within the industry itself. If not then everyone loses,” said Navetas’s Chris Saunders.
Navetas is a UK-based company that develops innovative technology that empowers individuals, utilities and businesses to make better energy choices and find new ways to reduce and manage energy consumption and minimise their environmental impact.
CEO of Navetas, Chris Saunders, has 18 years experience working in the utilities industry, and thinks this is an opportunity for both the energy sector and Government to look at other innovative options. Navetas’ technology identifies individual appliances and measures their energy consumption, providing rich data to help householders and businesses save money by using electrical appliances more efficiently.
