FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Smart metering and demand response holds the key to

solving Britainʼs energy crisis
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British consumers could save £1.4 billion annually , 17 megatons of CO2 emissions and avoid the
addition of 23 power plants by the year 2020 through effective demand response and smart
metering programmes.
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Research published by VaasaETT and partners shows that the implementation of demand response
and smart metering across Britain, backed by appropriate regulatory structures, could effectively alleviate
the ongoing “Energy Crisis”, achieve drastic cuts in CO2 emissions, making the implementation of
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renewable energy generation a far more realistic prospect while saving consumers over a billion pounds
per year in overall energy spending.

Other Findings of the research include:

o Smart meters without a well-coordinated demand response strategy will lead to hundreds of
millions of pounds of wasted investment.

o Successful British and European demand response will not happen without a complete re-
think of the way consumers pay for their energy, and a much more thorough understanding of
customer psychology and marketing issues behind demand response behaviour.

o The Utilities industry alone cannot be expected to provide all the components in the demand
response Jigsaw. Consumer electronics, telecoms, internet and other in-home service
providers will need to be encouraged to enter the market for home automation.

Dr Philip Lewis, of VaasaETT argues, “The current regulation and requirements for smart meters which
are being debated by the government will not allow or encourage a wide range of demand response
programmes, thereby denying the public and the country their potential benefits. There is therefore a
need to add to the public debate and raise awareness about the issues and the possibilities which may be
won – or lost.”

Jessica Stromback of VaasaETT further states, “Smart meters rollout represents a unique opportunity for
British government and utilities to help the British public save billions of pounds while at the same time
benefitting the environment. Smart meters are being “sold” as energy saving devices, there is therefore a
responsibility to use them effectively”

                                                             
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This includes commercial and residential customers
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“Demand Response, A decisive breakthrough for Europe” VaasaETT, Capgemini, Enerdata. 2008
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Put simply, demand response is a collective name for programmes, which make customers aware of their electricity consumption
and enables or motivates them to reduce or shift consumption. This can be done through a variety of means such as: automated
thermostats, pricing signals, in-house displays, clear, informative billing and eco home technologies.
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This includes residential and commercial customers 
For further information contact:
Andy White, Marketing Manager
VaasaETT Global Energy Think Tank
Andy.white@vaasaett.com
Tel +44 (0) 871 315 7334 / Fax +44 (0) 871 315 7335
www.vaasaett.com

The VaasaETT Global Energy Think-Tank is an innovative provider of collaborative expertise

and solutions to the energy and utilities industry, through its network of senior executives,
officials, researchers and other experts that are mostly known and trusted personally. Value is
provided to partners through the synergy of Interactive Forums (both real and virtual) and
Collaborative Projects.
The Think-Tank focuses broadly on strategic business, market, innovation and regulatory
issues, and is world renowned for its expertise in fields such as Customer Psychology &
Behaviour, Smart Metering and Demand Response.
VaasaETT’s core team of specialists have provided assistance to more than 300 organizations
in around 50 countries; client references include Shell International, E.ON, ERGEG (European
Regulators Group for Electricity and Gas), EDF, Nokia, ABB, Electrabel, RAO, Fortum, ENECO
Energie, NUON GmbH, Brittish Gas, Union Fenosa, RWE, Duke Energy, BC Hydro Canada,
CRIEPI Japan, Npower etc.