LOW income householders in Northern Ireland may soon be able to monitor their energy use and reduce bills, following the first trial of Smart meters carried out by the University of Ulster.
The meters, which provide customers with a real-time display of the electricity they are consuming, were installed into 56 homes across Northern Ireland for a period of 12 months.
Professor Christine Liddell from the School of Psychology led the project, which was commissioned by the Utility Regulator.
She said: “Smart meters have much more potential than previously thought for customers vulnerable to the impacts of fuel poverty. Provided they are introduced with a good level of customer care and support, they are readily accepted and soon become an essential part of many customers’ energyrelated activities.”