Oxfordshire County Council has launched a mobile app to help its residents reduce their energy usage.
It has developed the Energy Saver App in collaboration with energy infrastructure and solutions provider SMS – which provides the cloud based energy transition platform Metis – energy insights platform provider Eliq and comparison site provider My Utility Genius.
The initiative has been supported by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The council said the app is available for use by households with a smart energy meter, will analyse gas and electricity consumption and suggest simple, personalised actions to reduce the bills.
It provides information on consumption by different devices, spending on each unit of energy, how much CO2 and money is being saved by actions, and future consumption based on usage history and similar homes.
Other features include a budget planner and notifications on abnormal consumption.
No information is shared with third parties without explicit consent.
Reducing bills and emissions
Cllr Dr Pete Sudbury, deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council with responsibility for climate change, environment and future generations, said: “In the middle of a cost of living crisis and a climate emergency, this exclusive offer for Oxfordshire is a fantastic way for residents to reduce their bills and cut their carbon emissions.
“We expect everyone who signs up will be able to cut their gas and electricity consumption by at least seven per cent and save themselves money. The app is independent of the energy suppliers, so there is no catch, and we are delighted to be pioneering it here in Oxfordshire.”
Tom Wooley, product and strategy director for SMS and Metis, said: “The app, powered by Metis, connects to your smart meter to automatically gather information about your electricity and gas usage. It then analyses the data to provide simple advice on how you can reduce your bills.
“Additionally, the app uses the information to suggest future steps for saving money through solar and heat pumps, customised to your household’s specific needs. Users will be asked to input information about their smart meter.
“The app can then access current and historical electricity and gas usage data from the UK Data Hub, which it translates into clear, simple insights that make understanding – and reducing – home energy consumption quick and easy.
“The decisions on when and whether to get solar panels, battery systems, heat pumps can be a daunting task. This approach makes sense of that, removing the need for upfront investment and clear data driven, bespoke options to further reduce energy spend and reliance on the national grid.”
Oxfordshire is also planning trial with app users on the use of smart energy devices later in the year. It will look at how modelled energy tariffs could affect take-up of the appliances.
