Two credits are available when energy display devices (usually referred to as smart meters) are installed in the dwelling. As a minimum a smart meter displaying the electricity use is required for one credit. A second credit can be awarded when information about energy use for heating is displayed. There are many devices on the market that are referred to as smart meters. To enable credits being awarded there are some specific requirements listed in the Code for Sustainable Homes Manual.
The Code for Sustainable Homes Manual (November 2010) defines energy displaying devices as follows:
This is a system comprising a self-charging sensor(s) fixed to the incoming mains supply/supplies, to measure and transmit energy consumption data to a visual display unit. As a minimum the visual display unit must be capable of displaying the following information:
- Local time
- Current mains energy consumption (kilowatts and kilowatt hours)
- Current emissions (g/kg CO2)
- Current tariff
- Current cost (in pounds and pence). For pre-payment customers this should be ‘real time’ data and for ‘credit’ paying customers cost should be displayed on a monthly basis
- Display accurate account balance information (amount in credit or debit)
- Visual presentation of data (i.e. non-numeric) to allow consumers to easily identify high and low level of usage
- Historical consumption data so that consumers can compare their current and previous usage in a meaningful way. This should include cumulative consumption data in any of the following forms day/week/month/billing period.
