Neater meter: The end is nigh for our old-style, entirely incomprehensible electricity meters.

They are to be replaced by "smart meters" which will allow people to get a better picture of their electricity usage as well as offering a range of functions including the smart use of cheap-rate electricity. The new meters, which will be introduced over the next four years at a cost of €1 billion, will also allow householders to sell home-generated electricity back to the national grid.