Two-way communications systems in the electricity supply industry

Seven years ham passed since the introduction of the liberalisation of the Electricity Supply Industry in the UK. Miin?- diverse benefits and applications hitye been suggested which depend upon efficient bidirectional communications between the utility and its customer base. These applications haw inclutletl automatic meter reading (AMR), distribution automation, load management, remote meter calibration, tokenless prepayment and remote tariff management. Honewr the ongoing development of Competition in the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) in the United Kingdom may slow implementation, or ewn preient these communications becoming a reidit?.