SSE and retailer Dixons Carphone have joined forces to develop ‘connected home’ solutions. They will use Dixons Carphone’s  after-care service Knowhow, and digital platform honeyBee. The partners say the combination aims to bring connected home benefits to everyone, “not just the tech savvy”.

Customers will be able to control connected devices in the home, purchase recommended products, arrange installation of smart thermostats or security systems, get insurance cover and help to troubleshoot technical and maintenance issues.

SSE and Dixons Carphone will be building and trialling new connected product and service propositions through 2017, paving the way for a consumer launch thereafter. The combined customer base – totalling 10 million households – will be the first to be offered deals.

Will Morris, SSE MD retail said: “This is another big step on our journey towards becoming a market-leading retailer of energy and essential services, by digitising and diversifying our business and consistently delighting our customers.”

Andrew Harrison, chief executive of Dixons Carphone, said: “CurrysPCWorld and Knowhow are out delivering, installing and fixing these products 365 days a year and our market leading honeyBee platform provides an easy way to monitor and control these devices, so we are incredibly excited to partner with SSE and extend our relationship with customers further into the home.”