The People with Energy website has had a makeover! We are very happy to have launched our revamped site this week and we hope that our visitors will find the changes we have made helpful and informative. One of the biggest changes that we have made is the introduction of our ‘Utilities’ job section – this includes all jobs that involve delivering essential services to both business and residential customers. Included amongst these utility jobs are new smart metering jobs which are soon to become a huge part of the energy industry as the sector grows.

What is a smart meter?

Smart meters are a new generation of energy meter for gas, electricity and water. Unlike old models, these new meters communicate directly with energy suppliers to provide accurate readings and allow customers to monitor their energy consumption more closely. This means that meter readers will no longer need to visit people’s homes and customers will no longer overpay or underpay their bills based on estimates. The government plans to have all homes and premises installed with a smart energy device by 2020 and some energy suppliers have already started the replacement process.

What does this mean for energy jobs?

Despite the change in role for meter readers, plenty of new exciting job opportunities have opened up. The energy companies are now starting to employ new workers to take charge of the installation of these new meters as well as informing customers on how to get the best out of them. Now is a great time to get into the sector in time for the full-scale upgrade programme once it starts in 2015. Among the new jobs being created are:

• Vendors
• Monitoring software specialists
• Billing experts
• Technical implementation positions

Once smart meters have been fully distributed across the country, monitoring the readings that are sent in as well as troubleshooting and fixing any problems with the meters will become essential jobs and the future of the sector. The guardian recently ran an article on its website highlighting the working day of a British Gas Smart Energy Expert which you can read here – it is a great insight into future jobs in smart metering and how they can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

For more information on Smart Metering Jobs be sure to visit the utility jobs section of our new-look website.