British Gas plans 2,600 new green jobs by 2012

LONDON, July 1 (Reuters) - Centrica's (CNA.L) British Gas plans to create 2,600 jobs over the next three years to help introduce so-called "smart meters" in British homes, the company said on Wednesday.

The new workers will install the smart meters and help homeowners understand how the devices can potentially help reduce energy use, and save money on monthly bills.

Britain plans to replace all existing electricity and gas meters -- often clunky objects hidden away amid domestic clutter in dark cupboards -- with easily viewed devices that show consumers exactly how much energy they are using, including by individual appliances.

The hope is people will change their behaviour to save money. The meters will also help homeowners sell electricity from green technologies like roof-top wind turbines back to the grid while improving energy demand forecasts and network management.

Smart meters are seen as a first step toward creating "smart grids" where consumers can adjust electricity use to benefit from cheaper energy at times of low demand, including charging electric cars, and reduce consumption at peak times.

"Today's announcement of 2,600 new jobs by 2012 shows we are creating skilled green jobs in Britain and training the experts who will help customers become more energy efficient in the future," Phil Bentley, managing direct at British Gas said in a statement.

The British government estimates that smart meters could deliver net benefits of between 2.5 million pounds and 3.6 million pounds over the next 20 years.

In April, the government set a 2020 target to cut Britain's greenhouse gas emissions by 34 percent compared with 1990 levels. But the necessary renewable energy growth and efficiency improvements have so far been small.

The new British Gas workers will advise customers on the range of rates available, conduct energy efficiency audits and provide tips on how to cut energy use.

The 2,600 new jobs are in addition to the 1,500 new green jobs the company announced earlier this year.

(Reporting by Michael Kahn; editing by William Hardy)