An accelerated rollout of the digital gas or electricity meters will put an end to estimated bills and allow accurate tracking of people’s usage to cut bills, and save water
Families across Britain could save up to 17% on their household bills as Labour pledges to fit half of homes with a smart meter in the next five years.
An accelerated rollout of digital water meters will put an end to estimated bills and allow accurate tracking of people’s usage to cut bills. They are a vital tool in detecting leaks and helping families understand their water use, meaning households can save money.
The sweeping reforms include mandatory water efficiency labelling, which ministers estimate will cut household bills by over £125million over next 10 years. The plans will be set out in the Government’s major white paper to overhaul the water sector, which will be published early next week.
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As part of scheme to cut bills, ministers will also pledge to introduce a new initiative to slap efficiency labels on appliances like washing machines, showers and dishwashers.
The proposal, which is already done in Australia, could save £125million on household bills over the next 10 years. Studies show products with A-rated labels cut water usage by 63L per person per day. While most households (61%) are on a water meter, only 12% have a water smart meter installed.
These record water use in near-real time and are a vital tool in detecting leaks and helping families understand their water use so they can save money. Figures show the introduction of mandatory water efficiency labelling on appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and showers can save households around £57 million on water bills and £71 million on energy bills over the next decade, as well as protecting precious water supplies.
Ministers claim the plans will save water to protect the environment, as well as reducing water and energy bills for households. Other plans include a new independent, impartial, and powerful Water Ombudsman to ensure customer complaints are taken seriously and resolved quickly.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: “We’re driving forward practical solutions, from mandatory water efficiency labelling to encouraging the rollout of smart meters. Our Water White Paper is the next step in rebuilding broken infrastructure, restoring public trust, and delivering a water system fit for the future.”