Nearly eight out of 10 smart meter customers have taken steps to reduce their energy use.

They include actions such as turning the lights off and heating down as well as changing the way they use household appliances.

That’s according to DECC’s ‘Fourth Annual Report on the Roll out of Smart Meters’.

Smart meters provide accurate and near real time information on energy use and costs, helping consumers lower their energy bills and carbon emissions.

The government aims to ensure every home and business in the country is offered a smart meter by 2020.

Its report added “people with smart meters feel more informed and in control of their energy use” as “more than eight in 10 (82%) feel they have a better idea of what they are spending on energy”.

Citing the findings published by Smart Energy GB, it went on: “Nearly seven in 10 (69%) say they are more conscious about the energy that they use.”

DECC also found nearly four in five (79%) believe their energy bills are accurate whereas only 59% of those without a smart meter feel the same.

It added more than eight in 10 (84%) people with a smart meter would recommend it to others.

Industry experts recently said smart meters are a “key” incentive for customers to switch their energy suppliers.