The government has announced plans for new standards for smart appliances to save consumers money on their bills.

The new requirements will apply to smart appliances like heat pumps and electric vehicle chargers.

The changes are planned to enable more households to access cheaper tariffs to cut their energy bills.

Energy Smart Appliances allow customers to switch their electricity usage to time when it is less costly for the energy system. When an appliance’s smart function is activated, it will respond to price signals and can then use energy when it is cheapest, such as overnight.

A new framework will also introduce requirements for heat pumps to be sold smart-ready, in line with regulations that already apply to electric vehicle chargers.

Meanwhile, new cybersecurity standards will also be introduced for smart appliances, to protect customers and their data from cyberattacks.

Energy minister Michael Shanks said: "From EV chargers to heat pumps, smart appliances can do the hard work for consumers by automatically using energy when the price is low. We want to put more money in people’s pockets as part of Our Plan for Change by making it easier for people to benefit from cheaper off-peak tariffs in their home.  

"These new standards will also bring a common-sense approach to smart appliances by ensuring different brands and models can operate across different energy suppliers, allowing consumers to shop around for the best deals."