As the nights draw in and the temperature drops, many people across Hertfordshire will be thinking about how to keep track of their energy use this winter.
Getting a smart meter installed is a great way of doing this – and could help you save money too.
Elaine and Sidney Regan from Borehamwood have had a smart meter in their home for around five years now, and they say it has been a game-changer.
Sidney, 78, was a taxi driver for 50 years, while Elaine, 68, worked as a receptionist. Both now retired, they have three children and seven grandchildren.
The couple keep a close eye on their energy consumption with the help of their smart meter display, which provides accurate, up-to-date readings. The smart meter also makes manual readings a thing of the past.
“Our neighbour had a smart meter and told us we should get one,” says Elaine. “We decided we had nothing to lose. We phoned our energy supplier and they arranged it all for us.
“It was very simple. They sent someone to install it and all the work was done in less than a day. We’re so glad we got a smart meter. It’s very accurate and we haven’t had any issues with it.”
Elaine is particularly glad that she and Sidney no longer have to manually provide meter readings.
“That used to be a nuisance, particularly in winter, as it meant going outside in the freezing cold,” she says.
“Our gas meter is behind a huge hydrangea in the garden and is really awkward to access. It’s so nice not having to do that any longer.
“We also had to phone up to give the meter readings, but now all of that is done for us. We’ve become very conscious about how much energy we’re using, and even more so now we’re heading into winter.”
Smart meters are installed at no extra cost to the customer and can save you money by helping you work out where cuts can be made.
Suppliers may also offer people with smart meters cheap energy deals between specific hours on certain days.
“The in-home display shows your electric and gas usage,” Sidney explains. “You also get a round-up at the end of each week. It’s very easy to follow.
“Elaine looks out for offers; for example, the other day our supplier was offering free energy for an hour on a particular day, so we used that time to get some essential jobs done. If you can save a bit of money, however little, why not do it?”
Elaine has also made a few other energy-saving changes since she started tracking her energy use with the help of her smart meter display.
“We will only put on the washing machine or dishwasher when they’re full, and we try not to use the tumble dryer in the summer,” she says.
“We use draught excluders around some of our doors; that has made a big difference. We also have LED lights around the house, which saves a lot of energy.
“We keep a very close eye on what we are using, more so than we did before we had a smart meter installed. We didn’t take much notice of it before. It really saves time, and everything is just so easy.
“All our bills are dealt with digitally, and we pay via direct debit. I’ve also got the app on my phone, which comes in handy too.”
Get a smart meter*.
*Eligibility may vary.
