IT companies vying for major energy contract

21:00 17th December 2008

IT companies are vying for a deal to manage the installation of smart electricity meters proposed by the government.

In a scheme to be put before the energy sector at the beginning of 2009, IT companies will be invited to bid for a major national contract involving networking and data-processing services.

IT systems will be responsible for implementing a connection between the residence and the energy supplier, which is not turned off under any circumstances.

Jason Brogan of the Energy Retail Association (ERA) cautiously welcomed the innovation, telling the Independent newspaper: "Smart meters are not an answer in themselves but they are a facilitating infrastructure."

He added that the device was financially advantageous for the business sector but said he was less clear as to how domestic households would benefit.

ERA was founded in 2003 to promote the interests of the major energy suppliers within the domestic market.