BusinessGreen - New industry body to advise on smart meter rollout
Consumer Energy Display Industry Group formed to promote in-home displays as part of plans to fit 53 million meters across UK
A new industry group has been formed to ensure manufacturers of energy management devices are fully represented throughout the UK's nationwide rollout of smart meters.
The Consumer Energy Display Industry Group (CEDIG), formed yesterday as a sub-group of the British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA), aims to provide expertise on in-home displays to the government's consultation on the technical specifications for smart meters.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) intends to fit 53 million meters by the end of 2019, along with associated displays and communications hubs, as part of a bid to cut wasted energy from homes, offices and factories.
The onus is on energy companies and manufacturers to ensure this ambitious target is reached, and Chris Saunders, chief executive of Navetas, a founder member of CEDIG, along with Onzo, AlertMe, GEO, OWL and Current Cost, said the group intends to ensure the potential benefits of in-home displays are not overlooked.
"Although in-home displays have been mandated as part of the government rollout of smart meters, no one has specified exactly what the displays should 'do', or how they should be incorporated into the overall smart meter picture," he said. "CEDIG has been formed to give display manufacturers a voice in negotiations around these specifications.
"It is important that displays do not become a commodity if they are to
deliver fully on the promise of smart meters to reduce overall energy use."