Coalition claims it will speed up smart metering

Huhne said he wanted to see significant acceleration of the scheme

At the launch of the consultation on the faster rollout of smart domestic energy metering this week, climate change secretary Chris Huhne said he wanted to see significant acceleration of smart meter rollout compared with that planned by the previous government.

He said in the Commons: "[The consultation] makes clear that we want to see a significant acceleration of smart meter rollout compared with previously published targets and we will work with industry to establish ambitious but achievable targets."

His statement was greeted with skepticism by shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband, who said he welcomed the smart metering announcement but added: "I think that you have adopted our timetable for the rollout of smart meters despite the great rhetoric before the election about a faster timetable."

DECC has set a date of 28 October to complete the consultation but said it wanted earlier answers to key issues by 28 September "to facilitate earlier decisions where this is possible and appropriate".

Huhne said reliance on intermittent green power sources would require more intelligent use of the grid.