Ovo Energy has launched a trial which will link a customer’s smart meter to a smart thermostat in what it claims is an industry first.
The company is conducting the trial with German smart thermostat company tado.
Emails have this week been sent out to a small group of customers offering them a tado smart thermostat linked to their smart meter and able to extrapolate data to provide bespoke advice through the supplier’s My Ovo app.
The offering will allow participating customers to see how much money they can save by adjusting their heating at specific times of day.
Ovo says during the beta phase of the trial the installation will cost customers £15 a month over a 12-month period which will be included as an additional line within consumers’ bills.
During the second phase of the beta trial, due to begin in spring next year, customers will have the option to install the smart thermostat themselves with a guide provided by Ovo. A spokesperson told Utility Week that this option will be cheaper but pricing is yet to be confirmed.
Jessica Tan, managing director of Smart Home, Ovo Energy, said: “For too long customers have been in the dark on how much they spend heating their homes. By partnering with tado smart thermostat, we’re going to change that, giving our members ultimate control over their heating and bespoke advice on how to lower the cost of their energy usage and cut carbon.
“We’re excited about this launch, which is the first of many exciting propositions we’re working on to give consumers the data they need to reduce their overall carbon footprint.”
Toon Bouten, chief executive of tado, said: “Making homes more energy efficient is a key part of lowering carbon emissions and we’re thrilled to partner with Ovo Energy. The partnership brings together two companies at the forefront of the digital energy transition and as a cross-manufacturer platform, tado connects with any kind of heating system to serve all kinds of homes.
“Together with Ovo Energy, we are demonstrating how customer-friendly technology can have a positive impact on the environment as well as home finances and comfort.”