Shining a Light on the Slow Smart Meter Roll-Out

In the digital age, we’re accustomed to the convenience of technology that streamlines our lives and conserves resources. Smart meters, designed to measure and manage electricity and gas consumption, were introduced as a tool to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

The widespread adoption of these devices has been hampered by concerns over forced switches to prepayment meters and faults, leaving many bill payers sceptical of the benefits.

Delayed Roll-Out

Smart meters have been hailed as a means to revolutionise how we manage and consume energy, but delays have marred the journey to full implementation. In 2008, the Labour Government laid out their original plan for every British home to install a smart meter by 2019.

This deadline was pushed back on multiple occasions. As of March 2023, just 57% of meters were smart, with the Government hoping to reach 75% by 2025.

Scepticism from Bill Payers

One of the significant challenges faced by the smart meter roll-out is consumer pushback. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) pointed out that households with traditional meters are ‘less interested’ in adopting smart meters due to concerns about potential forced switches and a lack of understanding of the benefits. Reports of bad practices by energy suppliers haven’t helped matters.

Forced Switches

One of the most worrying aspects of the roll-out is the remote switching of some households to prepayment meters - a practice that leaves consumers at risk of running out of power. Energy suppliers can make this switch remotely if customers struggle to manage their bills.

While this has been presented as a way to help customers monitor their energy use, it has been labelled ‘disconnection by the backdoor’ by Citizens Advice. People may not have the means to top up their prepayment meters, leading to power outages.

The pressure imposed on energy providers to meet Government targets has led to instances where customers feel coerced into accepting a smart meter. The PAC expressed concerns that this approach has given the technology itself a bad reputation, causing enthusiasm for its adoption to dwindle.

Functionality Issues

Another challenge facing the smart meter roll-out is the functionality of the devices themselves. As of March this year, there were reports of around three million faulty smart meters, with an estimated seven million components requiring replacement when the 2G and 3G telecoms networks are phased out.

Rolling On

A proactive approach is required to address the sluggish smart meter roll-out and its impact on British bill payers. The Government should educate consumers about the benefits of embracing new technology and clear up any misconceptions.

Energy suppliers should ensure that customers have a choice when adopting these devices rather than feeling pressured into saying yes. Additionally, the functionality and reliability of smart meters must improve as a matter of urgency.

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