THE elusive gas or electricity man who leaves a card to say he called when we weren't there but often fails to appear when we wait in is a bugbear of all our lives. There is a more serious side to it though. Estimated meter readings can mean that people who find it hard to meet their fuel bills are paying more than they need to.

I have campaigned very actively on the issue of fuel poverty and so I was pleased to see the announcement this week by the government that all homes and small businesses will be fitted with smart meters by 2020. This promises to be the most ambitious programme since the conversion to natural gas in the 1970s.

Smart meters allow customers to know exactly how much electricity or gas they are using at the time they are using it and how much it is costing them. Being more careful with the gas or electricity we use makes not just financial sense but is also good for the environment.

There has been a lot of criticism of energy companies for being too powerful and keeping prices artificially high. Smart meters can put power back in our own hands to control the way we use energy.

A recent study estimates that smart meters could help to save the average household GBP 50 a year. You can find more information on other ways to cut your heating costs in a free leaflet that I have produced on the subject which you can download here.

It is important that smart meters are rolled out as quickly as possible and in particular that they reach areas where fuel poverty is a major problem. People using pre-payment meters face much higher bills than those who pay by direct debit.

The new technology can benefit all of us, however, and people who have taken part in the pilot scheme testify that it can also be fun. One person who has used it said that it let him know not just how much it cost to put a kettle on but also if his children were still playing on the computer at 1am.