Households able to use smart electricity meter next year

We thank Mr James Poh Ching Ping (“Fast-track launch of meter giving real-time water data”, March 7) on his feedback to deploy smart meters so that households can better manage their utilities consumption.

Smart electricity meters have been deployed for business consumers who are buying electricity from electricity retailers of their choice.

By the second half of 2018, the Energy Market Authority will launch Full Retail Competition to empower the remaining electricity consumers, mostly households, to choose their electricity retailers. They will also have the option of using smart electricity meters.

We are also embarking on a pilot scheme with PUB and SP Group to extend smart metering for water supply and town gas.

The trial will leverage the existing automated meter reading system for electricity meters to cover water and town gas meters.

It will include the development of a mobile application to provide timely and useful information to consumers on their utilities consumption.

The trial will help us ascertain the performance and viability, including cost effectiveness of the smart metering solution for water and gas in our local conditions, before any large-scale deployment can be considered.

In the meantime, SP Group will continue to provide consumers with relevant information to manage their utilities consumption via their monthly utilities bill and the mobile application.

Consumers can view their utility usage at a glance, compare that with the average consumption of their neighbours in similar housing types and also with the national average, as well as receive tips to save energy and water.

Anyone who wishes to make their homes more water-efficient can call PUB’s 24-hour Call Centre at 1800-CALL-PUB (1800 2255 782) to request for free thimbles for their taps and showerheads.