Regulators Respond as Energy Costs Rise

Advances in smart-grid technology—including advanced metering infrastructure, distributed energy resource integration and real-time analytics—are reshaping power generation, distribution and consumption to improve reliability and efficiency. Consumers are facing higher bills in some places: Singapore will slightly raise electricity and gas rates for Oct–Dec, and the UK’s Ofgem price cap rises 2% from Oct 1, with officials urging meter readings to avoid estimated charges. A new analysis highlights UK regions with very low proportions of energy‑efficient homes, noting simple home upgrades can cut costs and reduce damage risk. Governments are intervening: Victoria has strengthened retail protections and price limits to curb disconnections and save households money, and California’s periodic climate credit returns payments to millions of utility customers. Rapidly growing demand from AI data centres is adding strain to grids and may require major new capacity and faster approvals if unchecked. Manufacturers such as China’s Midea are expanding globally with energy‑efficient smart appliances and R&D that can complement grid modernization and household efficiency efforts.