Manx Utilities announces timetable for major infrastructure overhaul
Manx Utilities will start a multi-million pound rollout of smart meters in the New Year.
With problems being experienced with the key meter system, MU says the first phase will see those replaced.
Its aim ultimately is to upgrade all electricity meters on the Island.
Chairman Dr Alex Allinson MHK says smart meters can be topped up online, and will enable customers to manage their energy use better.
According to Manx Utilities, the smart meters will, 'facilitate the development of the Smart Grid, which will enable Manx Utilities to match all sources of energy supply to demand and in turn reduce waste and increase efficiency'.
It says it will also then be able to, 'offer customers a choice of tariffs to suit their own specific energy requirements, in addition to improving response times in the event of an electricity fault and introducing the capability to provide real-time use data'.
Manx Utilities expects it to take around four years to to replace all of the old meters, which number some 50,000 in all across homes and businesses in the Isle of Man.
How is this major piece of infrastructure change being funded, and what will be the cost?
Here's Dr Allinson:
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