Smart meter rollout deadline remains “unfeasible”, says Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice, in its role as the official consumer watchdog for energy, has responded to the publication of the latest figures from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for smart meter installations.
Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:
“Today’s figures show yet again that the target for everyone to have a smart meter by the end of 2020 is unfeasible.
“The government’s last cost-benefit analysis anticipated that 15 million meters would need to be installed this year. In order to hit that target, suppliers will need to install meters around three times faster than they did in Q1.
“The rollout deadline should be extended to 2023 and the government should publish up-to-date information on the costs and benefits of the programme.
“Smart meters are critical to modernising our energy infrastructure and we’re all paying for the rollout through our bills. A rush to install meters to hit the 2020 deadline risks giving customers a poor experience and undermining people’s faith in this important technology.”
Notes to editors
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