A missed opportunity for SMEs
May 1st 2008

The Energy Services and Technology Association (ESTA) believes that the Government's response to the Energy Billing and Metering Consultation – published on 29 April – represents a missed opportunity to make real inroads into carbon emissions from the Industrial and Commercial (I&C) sector – especially smaller businesses.

A key element in its strategy to move the country's energy supplies to a more sustainable basis was the provision of 'smart metering' to all but the smallest businesses. However, the Government announced after the consultation on smart metering had ended that it had changed the threshold so that only a small fraction of those businesses originally covered would now benefit from smart metering technology.

ESTA believes this is shortsighted and timid. Professor Martin Fry, the Association's chairman commented: "What is the point of publishing a White Paper setting out how the UK will meet its climate change and energy security goals if the Government then revises its own targets downwards without any discussion with either industry or consumers? We need strong leadership and challenging targets if we are to make real progress. This Government response fails to provide either."

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