Response to consultation on Ofgem’s final proposals on reforming suppliers’ meter inspection obligations

Citizens Advice agrees that the rollout of smart meters provides a sensible opportunity to review the current meter inspection obligations. [ 320 kb]The technological developments and regulatory proposals associated with smart meters meant that these obligations should be removed for this type of meter. The savings from reduced meter inspections are a key benefit from the rollout of smart meters, and we expect these savings to be passed on to consumers through lower bills. However, we remain concerned that consumers with traditional meters will be at higher risk from the changes. Billing accuracy could decrease as a result of these changes, and these consumers will not benefit from Ofgem’s proposed regulatory limits to back billing for smart meters.