Ofgem has handed over the launch of smart meters to the Government, a scheme which is to be rolled out in the UK by 2020.

In a recent open letter, energy minister Charles Hendry and Lord Mogg, the chairman of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority, said the Government had decided due to the large scale of the programme, that the Department of Energy and Climate Change would adopt the implementation of the scheme.

"The Government has decided that, in view of the scale of this programme and the importance of Government accountability for its delivery, DECC should assume direct responsibility for managing the implementation phases of this programme," the letter stated.

Smart meters will provide consumers real-time information about the gas and electricity used in their homes.

www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Resources/Energy-saving-news/Energy-saving-products/Ofgem-to-hand-smart-meter-roll-out-to-govt