Contact/Cyswllt:  Sian Cliff
02920 898342 / sian.cliff@wales.gov.uk

Welsh Liberal Democrats today call for all homes in Wales to be fitted with Smart Meters. Their debate calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to press the UK Government for a mandate and to develop an effective strategy for the installation of Smart Meters across Wales.

Spokesperson for the Environment Mick Bates AM said: “Smart Meters, which provide two-way communication between the customer and energy supplier, will revolutionise the way that energy is bought and sold. They will allow consumers to manage their fuel expenditure and monitor their carbon emissions, helping Government to achieve its objectives in fuel poverty and climate change.

“Over a quarter of carbon emissions in Wales are from housing. With this startling fact in mind, it is vital to begin our course of energy conservation and carbon emission reduction in the home, where our behaviours are first and fundamentally learned.

“The Government is forever planning to do something in this field, but has yet to make the great leap forward. The Energy Bill currently going through parliament is a golden opportunity to secure a mandate for a UK wide roll out of smart meters.

“Labour-Plaid Members continue to say they are in favour of Smart meters – we want to see them act smart and act now to make a roll out of Smart Meters a reality.

“The Labour-Plaid amendment to the debate today is tame and unambitious – exactly what we have come to expect from this timid coalition. Smart Meters are a move in the right direction and should be supported as an important part of the green agenda for Wales.”

The Welsh Liberal Democrat-led debate ties in with the UK 'E Day' which is encouraging people to switch off their electrical appliances in the home, to see how much energy can be saved.

Mike German, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, added: “Smart meters have the potential to help solve the fuel poverty crisis and help the poorest people in Wales to receive energy at a lower cost. The government likes to talk green, but we need to see green action.”



Notes:

What is a Smart Meter?

Smart meters are electric or gas meters that measure the exact amount of energy being used by a building. Smart meters are able to transmit this information to energy suppliers, avoiding the need for house calls to read meters.

They display the energy being used in pounds and pence so customers can see at-a-glance how much energy they are using, a task much more easily accomplished than the electricity display devices (EDD) which display energy use in kilowatt hours.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Motion:

NDM3874 Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the potential for smart meters to increase energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and assist with fuel poverty; and

2. Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to:

a) Devise an effective strategy to roll out smart meters across Wales; and

b) Continue to press the UK Government to introduce a mandate as soon as possible for the installation of smart meters in every household in Wales.


Government Amendment:

Delete everything after point 1 and replace with:

"2. Welcomes the piloting of Smart Meters in St Athan.

3. Following the publication of the Assembly Government’s ambitious Renewable Energy Route Map, welcomes plans to develop a National Energy Efficiency and Saving Plan this year.

4. Welcomes the opportunities provided by the new Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) to support energy efficiency improvements in Wales.”



End / Diwedd