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Calisen and LCP Delta: Switching up smart meters to serve the nation better could save up to £1.9bn every year

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Latest data shows the country’s smart meter system can strengthen energy resilienceBetter identification of vulnerable customers could create an additional £250m of savings

MANCHESTER, England, June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The UK’s smart meter system is an under-utilised tool that has the potential to serve the nation in new and important ways, according to latest research from LCP Delta, the expert energy consulting firm. Calisen, the UK’s largest smart meter provider commissioned the report ‘Switching up the smart system:  How the smart system can transform energy resilience’, to investigate how smart meters could better support the UK and look at the benefits of full rollout. Latest Department for Energy, Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) figures show 72% of UK homes have smart meters (electric and gas).  The LCP Delta report identifies operational and system interventions with a range of potential benefits from base case to best case – its upper most at a £1.9bn annual saving, with an additional lifetime saving of £250m from better identification of vulnerable customers.

Highlights from the report:

–  Dynamically balancing supply and demand: Smart meters can better match supply with demand – this presents huge value when renewables such as wind are abundant and reduces overall constraint costs (around £1.8bn for 2025 according to NESO).  They also allow consumer-led flexibility by providing near real-time data, which gives people the opportunity to shift when they use power. Smart meters enable services such as the Windy Day Fund, Power Up or Turn Up, which seek to distribute excess energy to customers, and the Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) which can reward households for reducing demand – a potential value of £560m in lower customer bills annually.
–  Voltage controls: Smart meter-enabled voltage control improves energy efficiency and grid resilience by providing visibility of voltage levels beyond substations. Trials show smart meter data can help identify and even predict voltage issues. Separate trials have shown smart meters can also be used to adjust voltage across a distribution network – a potential value of over £900m in lower customer bills annually.
–  Operational savings from full smart meter roll out: According to DESNZ, smart meters met their business case savings in 2019 in terms of reducing costs to industry such as site visits, customer calls and debt handling.  With domestic supply profits in the low single digits and capital adequacy concerns, reducing metering costs helps energy companies invest in product innovation and better customer service – full smart meter roll out has a potential value of £420m in industry savings a year.
–  Vulnerable customers: Recent pilots by distribution network operators (DNOs) have demonstrated smart meters’ ability to help identify vulnerable customers through consumption data patterns.  Better identification of vulnerable customers has a broad range of benefits including better health from warmer homes in winter and more efficient support for customers on the Priority Services Register.  There are also reduced costs in serving customers during power cuts and emergency situations – potential saving across the current system of £250m.

Realising the fuller benefits of the smart system also underlines why the Government’s bold target to reach 100% uptake is such an important commitment.  More meters working more of the time is also critical – latest DESNZ figures show over 7% of smart meters are non-communicating.  However, advances in data and analytics mean industry can more effectively tackle non-communicating meters to ensure the system is fully functioning and giving consumers and the grid better visibility to make the most of precious resources.

Commenting on the research, Catherine O’Kelly, CEO of Calisen, said:

“Smart meters are now part of everyday life for the majority of people in the UK.  Cheaper flexible tariffs and the transition to low carbon technologies like solar, batteries and EVs are driving increasing uptake as consumers see more tangible benefits to this clever bit of kit. 

“The first stage of the smart meter rollout brought convenience and savings to consumers and industry alike.  A maturing smart meter system opens up even more possibilities that could save Britain billions and bolster our grid as we move to cleaner power sources.  The research paints a picture of an important piece of national infrastructure, connecting near real time data and flexible demand side management for the benefit of us all. Importantly, we know from the 4 million home visits a year the Calisen field force makes, smart meters present an opportunity to improve the lives of vulnerable customers – ensuring better identification of those in need and opening up a pathway to support.”

Tom Veli, Partner at LCP Delta, added:

“The UK was one of the first countries to adopt smart metering to bring in a whole range of demand side benefits – reducing manual reads in homes and making it easier for consumers to switch supplier. While the rollout has been slower than hoped, a more comprehensive smart meter system now presents value creating opportunities for the nation at a time when energy bills are causing real pain. Our report considers a range of options across data and analytics such as improving meter health and outage detection but really focusses in on areas where there are substantial tangible gains to be made if industry and policy makers are prepared to work together. Beyond this, there is so much more we can do with our smart metering system.  It is an underutilised piece of grid infrastructure and now is the time to flip the switch from reactive to proactive.”

The report was launched at a cross-public and private sector event in Westminster, hosted by Calisen and LCP Delta, as part of London Climate Action Week.

Notes to editors

About the research

‘Switching up the smart system:  How the smart system can transform energy resilience’

Calisen commissioned LCP Delta to investigate ways in which the UK’s smart meter system could be harnessed to support the energy transition in new ways.  Experts at LCP Delta have produced the report in two sections.  The first report analyses grid resilience in the UK and around the world to show how systems seek to build strength across four areas: technical, operational, societal and systems.  This report also identifies new ways data and analytics could be used to improve the existing system.  The second report homes in on specific and practical opportunities, with potential values.  Each is actionable by industry, with some Government policy support required.

About Calisen

Calisen Group Holdings Limited (“Calisen”) has been operating in the modernisation of metering systems for over a decade, originating in Manchester and Wigan in the UK. Calisen has grown substantially in this time and is now the leading owner and operator of essential energy infrastructure assets, with 16m meters, including around 40% of all smart meters in UK homes. Calisen’s purpose is to contribute to the transition of the country’s energy and water systems from analogue to intelligent technology, making them more efficient, more resilient and giving people the power to connect to market innovations like flexible tariffs and home generation like solar.

The Group employs approximately 1,500 people from its offices in Manchester, Market Harborough, London, Wigan, and Portsmouth. Calisen also announced the launch of its first international business in Germany in November 2025.

For further information, please visit www.calisen.com 

About LCP Delta

LCP Delta™ is a trading name of Delta Energy & Environment Limited and Lane Clark & Peacock LLP (LCP). LCP Delta™ combines the expertise of LCP Energy and Delta-EE to provide a single partner across the whole energy value chain. We are a team of passionate people using data, primary research, insights, analysis and models, embracing advanced technology and innovation to accelerate the energy transition globally. Find out more here.

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Haier Showcases AI-Powered Smart Home Ecosystem at IFA 2026

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Connected products understand and adapt to everyday needs

BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Haier, the world’s No. 1 brand in major home appliances for 17 consecutive years*, showcased an AI-powered smart home ecosystem at IFA 2026 spanning garment care, refrigeration, cooking, entertainment, digital services and robotics. Under the theme “Home of Intelligent Possibilities,” the showcase demonstrates how connected appliances can evolve into a coordinated home that senses conditions, understands context, learns from user habits and adapts the way devices operate, creating a more intuitive and responsive experience at home.

AI That Adapts to Everyday Life

Across the portfolio, AI turns real-time information into practical adjustments. The Vision 15 washing machine uses an internal camera, sensors and algorithms to detect factors such as load size, balance and foam levels, and then adjust water levels, detergent dosing, drum movement and program settings. In refrigeration, the Maestro prototype brings several preservation technologies together. Its AI Food Care System 2.0 recognizes stored ingredients and recommends suitable conditions to help users manage food more effectively.

The ID Ultimate Series 6 oven applies the same approach to cooking. Its internal camera recognizes food, monitors cooking progress and can stop the program when the desired result has been reached. In the living room, UltraSense AI analyzes content and ambient conditions to adjust picture and sound on Haier Smart TVs in real time.

Together, these technologies extend AI into coordinated home scenarios across laundry, food care, cooking and entertainment. The hOn app brings Haier Europe’s connected products, services and home experiences together in a single digital environment, enabling them to work together around daily routines and translate connected technology into practical benefits at home.

This progression from individual products to coordinated home scenarios is already reaching users at scale. According to Euromonitor International, Haier Smart Home was recognized as the world’s No. 1 smart home enterprise based on global smart home revenue in 2025. Haier smart home platform has surpassed 130 million registered users worldwide and recorded 86.1 billion smart scene interactions in 2025.

Extending Intelligence Into Physical Interaction

Haier also showed how AI and embodied intelligence could translate smart home intelligence into physical tasks. The showcase featured humanoid robots interacting with appliances, robotic cleaning systems designed to recognize objects and different types of dirt, along with companion robots developed for voice assistance and personalized support.

The Haier Exoskeleton extended this theme beyond the home. Its sensors and algorithms interpret movement intentions in real time and adjust the assistance provided to each user, supporting mobility while preserving natural movement. Together, the demonstrations reflect Haier’s work to connect AI, appliances and robotics around practical human needs.

This technology portfolio is supported by Haier’s “10+N” open innovation system, which connects global research resources with local user insights. In the first half of 2026, Haier topped on IPRdaily’s global smart home invention patent list for the 15th consecutive time. Looking ahead, Haier plans to invest at least 13 billion euros over the next five years, with a focus on foundational technologies including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and IoT security to underpin its AI-native transformation.

Haier’s presence at IFA also highlights its global sports partnerships under the “Play with the Number Ones” concept, connecting the pursuit of excellence in sports with the brand’s focus on innovation, performance and better user experiences worldwide.

Visitors can experience Haier’s smart home technologies in Hall 3.1 at Stand 101 during IFA 2026 in Berlin from Sept. 4 to 8.

*Source: Euromonitor International Limited; Consumer Appliances 2026 Edition; % unit share, 2025 volume sales data

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Over 400 media professionals seek new drivers for Asia-Pacific growth

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GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This is a news report from South: 

According to Xinhua News Agency, the Asia-Pacific Media Forum will kick off in Shenzhen on September 5.

Over 400 domestic and foreign media professionals will gather in Shenzhen to explore China’s opportunities and identify new growth drivers for the Asia-Pacific within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

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SOURCE South

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Tuya Smart Brings Full-Stack AI into Everyday Life at IFA 2026

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BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tuya Smart (NYSE: TUYA; HKEX: 2391), a global AI cloud platform service provider, is showcasing its latest advances in physical AI at IFA 2026 under the theme “Hey Tuya.”

Headlining the exhibit is the global debut of the new AI companion robot Doova, alongside the European debut of Tuya’s AI Home, AI Energy, and AI Robot ecosystems, the Hey Tuya whole-space intelligent interaction experience, a full-stack Matter portfolio, and development tools designed to help turn AI hardware concepts into working products.

The showcase illustrates how Tuya is connecting cloud intelligence, devices, and developer tools to move AI beyond screens and into practical use across homes, energy systems, robotics, pet care, and personal assistance.

Doova Extends Physical AI to Home Companionship and Assistance

Following the debut of Aura, Tuya’s AI companion robot for pets, Tuya is expanding its robotics portfolio with Doova, a home companion robot designed for independently living seniors to combine emotional companionship, everyday assistance, health-related reminders, and home monitoring. Doova is equipped with LDS LiDAR, sound source localization, and AI vision-based posture recognition algorithms.

Doova can respond to a simple voice request for help and navigate to the user’s location, assess their posture, and, if necessary, place a video call to family members. Day to day, it can hold conversations, play audio and video, help users understand complex bills and letters, flag potential fraud risks, and guide them through the operation of smart appliances. It can also provide medication, weather, and schedule reminders, along with practical suggestions related to meals, gardening, and clothing. When users are away, Doova can patrol the home and generate a security report.

Together, these capabilities demonstrate how physical AI can combine contextual awareness with connected-device control to support more responsive and accessible living experiences.

AI Home, AI Robot, and AI Energy Make Their European Debut

At IFA 2026, Tuya is presenting its AI Home, AI Robot, and AI Energy application ecosystems together in Europe for the first time, combined with the Company’s full-stack Matter solutions.

AI Home brings together a range of AI-powered devices, including an AI radar sleep speaker, AI printer, baby monitor, AI flower pot, and AI learning companion, extending AI capabilities into everyday scenarios such as home care, pet care, and plant care.

For example, the AI radar sleep speaker integrates millimeter-wave radar technology to accurately detect user activity and trigger adaptive smart home functions—such as automatically turning off the lights once the user falls asleep. It can also monitor heart rate, breathing, and snoring in real time to generate daily sleep analysis reports. In addition, built-in white noise, natural soundscapes, and meditation music help users relax and drift into sleep more easily.

The smart pet collar uses sensitive audio capture and AI-based emotion analysis to interpret changes in a pet’s vocalizations and breathing. The AI radar speaker combines natural-language control of connected devices with contactless radar sensing for heart rate, breathing, snoring, and sleep quality, alongside functions such as alarms, focus timers, and white noise.

AI Robot products span pet care, interactive collectibles, and desktop tools, including Aura, Fuzozo, Walulu, an AI owl, and an AI robot dog. Aura combines behavioral analysis and sound recognition to interpret a pet’s emotional state, while features such as laser play, treat dispensing, and simulated pet sounds support interactive companionship.

Tuya AI Energy connects balcony solar and storage, smart metering and distribution, and EV charging into a household energy network spanning generation, storage, measurement, management, and consumption. By integrating real-time and dynamic tariff data from more than 800 electricity providers and more than 1,000 dynamic tariff service providers across Europe, the system intelligently shifts household loads to help reduce overall energy costs, improving energy efficiency and reshaping the value proposition of home energy storage. The exhibit demonstrates how Tuya’s energy management capabilities coordinate infrastructure and connected devices across the home.

A Full-Stack Matter Portfolio for Interoperable Products

Tuya is also showcasing an end-to-end Matter portfolio spanning chip modules and cloud services. The offering supports Matter over Wi-Fi, Matter over Thread, and Ethernet, as well as bridges from Zigbee, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi to Matter. It covers product categories including gateways, central control panels, lighting, plugs, sensors, curtain motors, thermostatic radiator valves, locks, and cameras.

Beyond standard Matter capabilities, Tuya layers on distinctive features — remote management, energy tracking, music-synced lighting — and integrates ecosystem tools like Amazon Frustration-Free Setup and the Google Matter API — allowing products to achieve cross-platform interoperability while preserving a differentiated user experience.

Hey Tuya Coordinates the Connected Home through Natural Language

Built on a multi-agent collaborative architecture, Hey Tuya is designed to coordinate services and devices across everyday scenarios rather than operate as a single-device assistant. Users can issue natural-language commands such as “Turn on the dining room lights” or “I’m leaving — activate monitoring,” allowing multiple devices and scenes to respond together.

The experience centers on four capabilities: round-the-clock home security monitoring; energy analysis and personalized efficiency recommendations; natural-language control and automation across multiple devices; and personalized services that adapt to household routines and preferences.

Tuya plans to continue improving the reliability, response speed, and task execution of Hey Tuya, while exploring subscription and value-added services in areas such as energy optimization, pet care, and video understanding.

Developer Tools Shorten the Path from Concept to Working Hardware

Tuya’s developer showcase presents a full technology stack for AI hardware development, where visitors can experience firsthand how ideas can be rapidly turned into functional AI applications that interact with and enhance daily life through the TuyaOpen open-source framework, Tuya Cobuilder, and Tuya AI Coding.

Tuya Cobuilder is an end-to-end Physical AI Builder designed for AI hardware developers. By simply describing an AI hardware concept in natural language, users can complete the entire development workflow in one place, ultimately enabling the application to run directly on real hardware. Tuya AI Coding, the Company’s AI-native no-code application development platform, lets users turn ideas into AI-powered applications with a single prompt—enabling non-technical creators to become builders of AI-powered experiences.

By bringing AI applications, interoperable device infrastructure, and development tools into one ecosystem, Tuya aims to help its global AIoT developer ecosystem create practical AI products more efficiently. The Company will continue advancing AI Home, AI Energy, and AI Robot applications and collaborating with developers and partners to make intelligent living safer, more convenient, and more responsive to individual needs.

About Tuya Smart

Tuya Inc. (NYSE: TUYA; HKEX: 2391) is a leading global AI cloud platform service provider dedicated to bringing AI into everyday life. Through its TuyaOpen open-source development framework and universal AI Agent engines, including the AI Agent development platform, Tuya integrates multimodal AI capabilities to lower barriers for AI development, efficiently advancing the realization of AI-driven lifestyles and accelerating AI integration with the physical world. Tuya offers innovative physical AI solutions for smart devices, commercial applications, and industry developers through its cloud computing and spatial intelligence capabilities. It also provides a complete, open, and neutral global AIoT ecosystem.

As of June 30, 2026, the Tuya AI Developer Platform had over 2,092,000 registered AI developers from more than 200 countries and regions.

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