The introduction of energy smart meters in the UK, to over 30 million homes, will be delayed for more than a year announces the government.
The £11.7bn project will start in the autumn of 2015, rather than the summer of next year, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said.
It said that the industry needed more time to design, build and test the communications system required.
The devices show exactly how much gas and electricity is being used.
This should bring an end to estimated bills, because the technology could send back an accurate meter reading to an energy company every day.
According to the industry, the technological advance would be the equivalent of using wireless broadband instead of sending a telegram.
The project is considered vital in attempts to cut energy use by households as the UK faces having to import more energy in the future.
Now, the programme to install these smart meters in every UK home is expected to be finished by 2020, also a year later than planned.
For more information on smart meters in the UK, click here.