In the current economic climate, British Gas is aware that the top priority for businesses is to save money by ensuring they have a firm handle on their costs.

It understands that this is a tricky environment to navigate - alongside volatile energy prices, pressure is on to make serious cuts in carbon emissions - in part through having a clearer handle on their energy usage.

The company has therefore launched ERIC (Electronic Read Information Capture), a meter read prompt tool designed to give customers greater bill accuracy and reducing the hassle factor by removing the need to estimate a bill in the absence of a meter reader.

Through ERIC, customers sign up to an email reminder service which prompts them to submit regular, accurate reads, allowing them to manage their bills at their own convenience.

With energy costs often being a 'black hole', this means customers will only ever be billed for the energy used and will avoid being over/under charged as a result of estimated billing.

ERIC is an addition to the iphone app which also allows customers to submit meter readings