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Review the smart meter roll-out

  • Putting a smart meter in every UK home will cost more than £11 billion
  • After concerns raised by consumers, we're calling for a halt to the roll-out
  • The government strategy on smart meters is flawed, and must be reviewed

At present, the government plans to have a smart meter in every UK home by 2019, at a cost of at least £11bn. This cost will be paid by consumers through their energy bills, so we want to make sure it is as low as possible.

However, at the moment, the roll-out is being led by the energy companies with no checks in place to make sure that costs don't spiral. What's more, after discussion with consumers, including on Which? Conversation, it has become clear that there are huge issues with consumer trust in the smart meter roll-out, with many raising concerns about things such as data security and even safety.

Stop the smart meter roll-out

After commissioning an external review of the smart meter roll-out (carried out by the Centre for Sustainable Energy), Which? is now calling for a stop to this programme. 

We want the government to review exactly how the smart roll-out is being carried out, and make sure that the consumer is not just writing a blank cheque to the energy companies.

What Which? wants

We want to see a complete review of the roll-out, including an examination into cost, and far more consultation with consumers.

Before continuing with the roll-out the government must answer these key questions:

  • How much will consumers pay? At the moment the government is relying on energy companies to roll-out smart meters to their customers. But there is no scrutiny of the costs accrued and how these are passed on to consumers, meaning that £11bn figure could grow.
  • How can we minimise the cost? The way the roll-out is being carried out could be more efficient. At the moment, energy suppliers are installing meters on a one-meter, one-house-at-a-time approach, meaning that installers could spend time travelling from area to area.
  • How do consumers feel about smart meters? We think there is already a worrying amount of distrust in the smart meter strategy. Consumers have raised worries about everything from switching to security. If the government does not address key consumer concerns, the mistrust will only grow.

We need to stop the roll-out now, and review how it is to be carried out. If consumers aren't happy, then we're not happy. We need the Department of Energy and Climate Change to listen to what consumers are saying and lead a programme that puts their interests front and centre.

Consumer thoughts on smart meters

Here is just a small selection of the views expressed on Which? Conversation when we first raised the issue of smart meters.

Commenter Jon said: 

'No to smart meters in the first place – a complete waste of several billion £s.'

Commenter Blair Breton said: 

'We should ask for (demand?) a pause in roll out. The balance of the arguments at present is that there are many serious concerns for consumers and for the energy companies that need to be discussed and resolved before any further smart meters are rolled out.'

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