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Energy Bill

Perhaps not today, but before we return to the topic, will my noble friend try to find out what the European experience is with this? Northern Ireland has been mentioned, but I am not necessarily saying that that is the best area to choose, because it has historically had high domestic energy prices. My understanding is that the Italian electricity system has gone through this process comparatively recently. There seems to be a sense being conveyed that the UK is trying to start from first principles and go through this in a painfully slow fashion, whereas we may be able to stand on the shoulders of others, see what they have done and perhaps save a bit of time. Maybe by the time we get to Third Reading, when I am sure that there will be debates of this nature, we could, either through the Library or by a letter in advance, have some indication of what other European countries of a similar size and economic development to our own have gone through to secure a system of smarter metering than we currently have.