NORTH EAST EURO MP PAVES WAY FOR 'SMART' ENERGY METERS

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 6th Jun 2005

Lib Dem Euro MP for the North East, Fiona Hall, has called for the Government to support binding energy saving targets.

Speaking in the European Parliament in advance of this week's vote on the Energy End Use and Energy Services Directive, Fiona Hall said:

"The UK Government has declared that tackling climate change will be a top priority during the UK Presidency of the EU. This is the moment to push for binding energy saving targets because if the targets are not binding, they will remain pie in the sky. The UK must set an example to fellow European Governments - otherwise the Government's fine words on climate change will be meaningless."

In the vote in Strasbourg on Tuesday, the Parliament is expected to agree an amendment put forward by Fiona Hall MEP to tackle the problem of consumer debt caused by irregular utility bills.

"The single biggest cause of personal debt in this country is having a huge gas or electricity bill land on your door mat after months or even years of estimated bills, or no bills at all.

"I have introduced an amendment which will require gas and electricity companies to send regular bills based on actual consumption. This will make it much easier for people to see how much energy they are using - and should end the nightmare of a massive bill coming out of the blue."

The draft Directive will require energy companies to provide their customers with the tools and information they need to monitor and change their energy use. This move will lead to a radical change in the type of electricity meters that consumers in the North East have in their homes.