Morning:
14°c
British Gas said today it will need to hire 2600 people over the next three years to install the new generation of household small metres.
The so-called green collar hiring spree comes on top of the 1500 jobs parent group Centrica said it will need to take on to beef up its windfarm and renewable energy businesses.
“British Gas is committed to making our customers' homes the greenest in Europe — cutting their carbon emissions and fuel bills,” said British Gas boss Phil Bentley.
“We're leading the roll out of smart metres and we are creating skilled green jobs throughout Britain and training the experts who will help customers become more energy efficient in the future.”
However, British Gas may be jumping the gun.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has yet to rule on the minimum technology or the roll out timing for smart metres — internet-style devices to enable households to limit consumption.
The department may easily decide that smart metres should be installed on a street-by-street basis rather than being connected to individual houses by the homeowner's energy supplier.
