The U.K.’s Energy Retail Association, which includes the country’s six largest household suppliers of power and gas, objects to a government plan to give consumers monitors that would show the cost of their electricity consumption. Providing customers with free electricity display devices, as proposed by the government, will hinder the spread of more advanced meters that better control consumption, the association said in an e-mailed statement. Its members want the government to support the installation of so-called smart meters, rather than the less-advanced display monitors, the association said. “We believe that smart meters are essential if consumers are to be offered greater control of their energy consumption,” said the association, whose members include the U.K. units of E.ON AG, Germany’s biggest utility, and Electricite de France SA, Europe’s biggest power generator. Britain’s governing Labour Party said in April it wants to make the electricity display monitors available for free to consumers who request one from their supplier, to slow the growth in energy consumption and help curb emissions of carbon. Smart meters use telecommunications equipment to provide suppliers and consumers with information about energy use, enabling accurate and more sophisticated billing, according to the association. The association, which also includes Centrica Plc, the U.K. units of Iberdrola SA and RWE AG, and Scottish & Southern Energy Plc, says 45 million meters may be replaced within 10 years.

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