We took over a British supermarket and installed hidden cameras. When unsuspecting shoppers got to the checkout, they were in for a surprise. Instead of having their items scanned and getting a receipt, they were asked to pay an “estimated bill”. This provoked entertaining consumer reactions ranging from laughter, to bafflement, to outrage.

The transformative impact of smart meters on how we buy and use energy is summed up in the voiceover at the end of the film which says: “We don’t estimate our shopping bills, so why do we estimate our energy bills? By 2020, every home in Britain can upgrade to a smart meter.”

We took over a British supermarket and installed hidden cameras. When unsuspecting shoppers got to the checkout, they were in for a surprise. Instead of having their items scanned and getting a receipt, they were asked to pay an “estimated bill”. This provoked reactions ranging from bafflement to outrage.

The transformative impact of smart meters on how we buy and use energy is summed up in the voiceover at the end of the film: “We don’t estimate our shopping bills, so why do we estimate our energy bills? By 2020, every home in Britain can upgrade to a smart meter.”