At the Council meeting on 28 May 2009, Councillor Child raised the following motion:

Transcription

1 + D f N BVRGH THE CTY OF EDNBURGH CBUNCL tem no Report no Smart Meters in Homes Health Social Care & Housing 1 August Purpose of report At the Council meeting on 28 May 2009 Councillor Child raised the following motion: Council Notes that the report on the provision of Smart Meters to domestic households in the city is currently being prepared in response to a previous motion by Cllr Chapman Notes that the Westminster Government has recently unveiled plans for every home in Britain to be equipped with smart meters by the end of 2020 These meters allow for a real-time display of energy use in the domestic home and can lead to significant reductions in energy bills for consumers 3) 4) Welcomes this initiative and calls for a report to outline what pro-active steps the City of Edinburgh Council can take to ensure that these meters are provided in Edinburgh at the earliest opportunity and for areas of deprivation - such as North Edinburgh and Craigmillar - to be given highest priority in any implementation programme To agree that the prioritisation process to be adopted for distributing Smart Meters be included in the report 12 Councillor Chapman s motion calling for Free Electricity Meters sought: Co u nci : 1) Notes that from May 2008 electricity companies should be distributing free clip-on electricity meters that enable people to monitor the cost of their energy use to customers that request such a monitor; 2) That this is a useful stop gap for people interested in reducing their utility bills and emissions before smart meters are introduced as standard over the next few years; 1

2 3) Resolves to work with Scottish Power and other major electricity suppliers to provide these clip-on monitors to all metered domestic households in the City and promote this scheme through all Council communications Summary There are two generic types of Smart Meter devices - i) a simple clip-on device which communicates wirelessly to a remote plug-in display unit in the resident s home & ii) a Smart Meter replacement for the utility companies own electricity meters which is a part of their infrastructure At the time of Councillor Chapman s motion informal discussions indicated that the utility companies did not intend to roll-out in any large volume the simple add-on Smart Meter preferring to focus resources on Smart Meter replacement There have been a variety of new energy schemes announced by the Government in the last several months some of which were outlined and noted within the recent Energy Efficiency in Edinburgh report to Health Social Care and Housing Committee of lgfh May 2009 The range of measures available within CESP (Community Energy Saving Programme) includes the possible large-scale use of the simple add-on Real Time Display/Smart Meter Services for Communities are considering a recent offer from Scottish Gas to promote and provide upon request a simple add-on Smart Meter for any tenant However if installation of these is linked to a wider package of measures we may be able to attract a higher level of grant funding Whilst plans are being developed to ensure utility companies Smart Meters will be installed by 2020 there remain some significant technical issues to be resolved This will delay the start of the roll-out programme which is unlikely to commence within the next two years Main Report The generic term of Smart Meters covers two different distinct types The first type and the subject of Councillor Chapman s motion refers to a simple clipon device which communicates wirelessly to a remote plug-in display unit in the resident s home and can provide real-time power usage and daily weekly and monthly consumption figures and associated costs (this unit is also referred to as a Real Time Display) This device is not a part of the utility company s infrastructure and is an ad-hoc add-on The second type of Smart Meter is a replacement for the utility companies own electricity meters and is a part of their infrastructure This meter along with providing useful customer information similar to the simple add-on type described will also be used for billing purposes At the time of Councillor Chapman s motion discussions with utility companies indicated that they were not looking to roll-out in any significant number the simple add-on Smart Meter device However further recent Government energy efficiency schemes which seek to tackle energy efficiency and fuel poverty measures on a whole-house basis now provide for the large-scale rollout of the simple add-on Smart Meters 2

3 Discussion is underway with a number of electricity utility companies on the potential for area based CESP whole-house schemes for areas of significant fuel-poverty CESP funding is due to start later this year and the full conditions are not yet available but are expected imminently t is likely that the simple add-on Smart Meters will form part of the package of measures for those areas included within any agreed scheme CESP funding is specifically focused on those areas that have significant levels of low income households and will also require direct engagement and collaborative partnership working with these communities For Scotland data zones for CESP eligible schemes are those that are within the 15% most income deprived areas Appendix 1 shows the Edinburgh map and listing of areas and number of properties potentially eligible for CESP funding Options are being developed for further discussion and consultation with the utility companies There has also been dialogue with Scottish Gas who confirm that they would be willing to provide individual simple add-on Smart Meters to any Council tenants who request them Edinburgh Tenants Federation are being consulted to determine whether to accept this offer or to develop a wider package of measures which may attract greater levels of grant funding We will report back on this to a future committee Real Time Displays/Smart Meters are likely to influence consumer behaviour in the short-term due to the novelty effect t is unlikely though that they would gain universal acceptance and become mainstream for the majority of householders within a short timescale They could be linked to the awareness raising exercise to the general public which is considered in more detail in the report Marketing and Communications Strategy for Energy Efficiency also presented to this Committee Discussions with the electricity utility companies have revealed some of the significant technical difficulties still to be resolved before such a Smart Meter installation roll-out programme can begin The issues predominantly relate to communication protocols and underlying communications mediums across the industry as customers have the ability to switch supplier at any time Liaison will continue with the electricity utility companies regarding their infrastructure upgrading plans with a view to ensuring the fuel poor areas of our city are considered first for the roll-out of these new meters Financial mplications We will work with utility companies to maximise the grant funding available for energy improvements within the city For the 2020 deadline for the Smart Meters to be installed as part of the utility companies own infrastructure no council funding will be necessary though it is likely that jointly with ETF we would develop an information campaign to ensure effective use 3

4 5 Environmental mpact 51 There is reasonable evidence to suggest that providing Smart Meters would have an environmental benefit as it would enable consumer behaviour to be positively influenced 6 Conclusions 61 The council will liaise with utility company partners regarding both the provision of the simple add-on Smart Meters and also to influence where possible the roll-out programme for their infrastructure upgrade programme 7 Recommendations 71 Committee is requested to: Note the contents of this report and endorse the approach outlined Mark Turley Director of Services for Communities Appendices Contact/tel/ Wards affected Single Outcome Agreement Background Papers Appendix 1: Edinburgh Map of CESP Eligible funding Mike Wagner mi kewagner@edinburghgovuk City-wide Supports National Outcome 10 - We live in well-designed sustainable places where we are able to access the amenities and services we need Energy Efficiency in Edinburgh (1 gth May 2009) 4

5 Appendix : Edinburgh Map of CESP Eligible Areas DataCode so SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO so SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO so SO SO SO s SO so SO so so SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO No of CEC Houses Total ntermediate Zone Names Gracemount Southhouse and Burdiehouse Gracemount Southhouse and Burdiehouse Gracemount Southhouse and Burdiehouse Gracemount Southhouse and Burdiehouse Hyvots and Gilmerton Dykes Gracemount Southhouse and Burdiehouse Oxgangs and Firrhill Moredun Mored u n Broomhouse and Sighthill Broomhouse and Sighthill Broomhouse and Sighthill Stenhouse Stenhouse Bingham Magdalene and the Christians Bingham Magdalene and the Christians Southside and Canongate Northfield Restalrig ( Loganlea) Drylaw South Leith Great Junction Street Great Junction Street Great Junction Street North Leith and Newhaven North Leith and Newhaven North Leith and Newhaven 5

6 -?-- i ii L Fa d C * E i C