In a nutshell
This government scheme will ensure all homes and small businesses have a smart meter installed by 2020. This will help consumers control energy usage, and enable a more efficient, greener, smarter energy system.
*A microbusiness is defined as a business which:
a. Consumes no more than 293,000kWh of gas or 100,000kWh of electricity each year; or
b. Has fewer than ten employees and an annual turnover not exceeding €2m.
With AMR, customers can also view consumption data, so they can more easily monitor opportunities for improved efficiencies.
Smart meters encompass all of the benefits of AMR technology, but they also have a display screen that shows:
For smart meters operating in prepay mode, it will also show:
To qualify as a smart meter, the equipment must conform to the detailed requirements laid out in the Government-published Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications (SMETS).
Where can I find more information?
You can find more information about smart meters on Government's website.