Energy supplier E.ON has announced the launch of a second smart metering centre of excellence to keep up with demand for the new technology.

The customer service team, which will be 85-strong, will be based at Parklands in Bolton and will offer tailored advice and support for customers with or wanting smart meters.

Since the opening of its first smart metering centre of excellence in Nottingham in May 2011, E.ON has seen the number of enquiries on smart meters triple and the opening in Bolton represents E.ON’s commitment to helping put customers in control of their energy.

In order to keep up with growing demand, E.ON has also re-skilled over 160 meter installers to become specialist smart meter fitters.


Opening the centre, Tony Cocker, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, said: "What we're seeing here is a real shift in demand; our customers understand the benefits of smart meters and they want them now – they want to see how much energy they’re using and they want more accurate bills. That's why we’re re-training our employees to be able to install smart meters and give specialist advice over the phone. The opening of the smart metering centre of excellence in Bolton reaffirms our commitment to helping put customers in control of their energy and we've invited some of our customers who live locally and already have E.ON smart meters to help us launch the centre today."

Installed for free, smart meters help consumers save energy and money as they are intelligent electricity and gas meters that enable two-way communications between E.ON and a person’s home. Using electronic communications technology, they’ll talk to E.ON remotely, sending accurate meter readings and energy usage details.

With government intent to install a smart meter into every UK home by 2019, E.ON has gained great momentum in installations so far and has fitted 125,000 smart meters across the country over the last 12 months. E.ON has committed to install a total of 1 million smart meters in the foundation period up to 2014.

(CD)