Energy Saver App by SMS and Oxfordshire County Council wins “Smart Systems and Flexibility Project of the Year” at the edie Net Zero Awards

Summary

Metis by SMS’s Energy Saver App has won Smart Systems and Flexibility Project of the Year at the edie Net Zero Awards 2025. Delivered with Oxfordshire County Council, Eliq, MyUtilityGenius, Engage Consulting, Solar Systems 365 and Growth Guides, and funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the project has been recognised for its innovative combination of technology and finance that helps households lower energy costs and emissions.

Transforming energy use through smart insights

Developed under the government’s Alternative Energy Markets programme, the Energy Saver App connects directly to smart meters to provide households with personalised energy insights. Using Eliq’s analytics technology, it translates complex consumption data into clear advice that helps residents identify waste, plan budgets, and take simple actions to save energy.

The app has already delivered measurable impact. In the Oxfordshire pilot, users reduced their household energy costs by an average of 9% even before installing solar and battery systems, while 42% reported direct financial savings of around £108 a year simply through behavioural change.

Making low-carbon upgrades simple and accessible

Alongside data-driven insights, the project integrates an innovative financing model led by Metis and partners, allowing residents to install solar PV and battery systems with no upfront cost. This approach has already seen a 65% conversion rate from app users to installations, demonstrating how personalised engagement and accessible finance can drive investment in clean energy.

By combining trusted local delivery, transparent data, and flexible financing, the Energy Saver App has helped Oxfordshire households make informed choices that deliver long-term savings and measurable carbon reductions.

Recognising collaboration and local delivery

Dale Hoyland, Programme Lead at Oxfordshire County Council, said:

This success has come from a wealth of expertise, dedication and hard work from a fantastic team whom I’m proud to have worked with. Through the Alternative Energy Markets programme, hundreds of households across Oxfordshire now have quality solar PV systems with battery storage, delivered with no up-front cost, in a simple way, with a trusted delivery route, offering a gateway into wider retrofit measures, lower bills, grid flexibility and measurable climate action.

Kate Lynch, Service Delivery Manager at Eliq, added:

We’re thrilled and proud to see the Energy Saver App bring home this award. It’s the result of a great partnership between Eliq, Metis by SMS, Oxfordshire County Council, Zoa and MyUtilityGenius. Through the project, we’ve proven that energy insights combined with a strong PV-plus-financing model can deliver incredible conversion rates, and we need more of this to reach net zero.

Scaling decarbonisation

The Energy Saver App has proven that when data, finance, and collaboration come together, the energy transition becomes tangible at the household level. With proven cost savings, exceptional engagement, and rapid conversion to renewable technologies, the project offers a scalable blueprint for how local partnerships can accelerate the UK’s journey to net zero.