For the utilities sector, smart metering represents a major advance in helping consumers understand where their money is being spent—especially as energy bills continue to rise—and in reducing overall energy consumption.
As a key component of the expanding Internet of Things, the smart meter is widely regarded as the first step toward creating truly connected smart homes.
In the UK, smart metering has been a prominent topic. The government recently announced a delay in the nationwide rollout: installation of smart meters in 30 million UK homes has been postponed until at least 2014, with the full programme now expected to conclude by 2020.
The delay was largely welcomed rather than criticized. Energy Secretary Ed Davey described the rollout as an “enormous logistical and technical challenge,” underscoring the complexity of implementing such a large-scale upgrade.
Writing for TelecomsTech in September, MDS’ Rob Smith highlighted lessons utilities can learn from telecoms, noting that telecom operators have developed strong capabilities in treating customers as individuals by offering tailored pricing plans and services designed for diverse usage patterns.
But how much do average consumers actually know about smart meters, the planned rollout, and the benefits they offer? O2 UK examined public awareness through a YouGov survey of 3,000 UK adults. The results showed that general knowledge remains limited, even though the advantages of smart metering are apparent once explained.
These findings echo an earlier Ipsos MORI study from August, which reported that more than half (51%) of respondents did not know what a smart meter was—suggesting public awareness has not significantly improved in recent months.
The survey and infographic emphasize the need for clearer consumer education on what smart meters do, how they can reduce energy use and bills, and how they fit into broader smart home and machine-to-machine (M2M) developments.
For those interested in exploring M2M applications and other industry developments, events such as Telecoms Tech World provide a platform for deeper insight and discussion.
Source: Telefonica Digital