According to the Daily Express, the Labour Government has announced findings and intentions after a review into smart meter performance across the UK. The Daily Express reports that the review found issues with smart meters are likely to have a knock-on effect on energy bills. According to the Daily Express, smart meters usually send readings to energy suppliers automatically, rather than relying on households to send manual readings.
The Daily Express states that if there is a problem sending readings, energy bills will be estimated. The Daily Express also reports that faulty readings from smart meters can sometimes lead to bills being calculated as more than a household actually used. Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert team reports that three in five Brits who reported a problem with their smart meter to energy providers have waited more than three months for a fix.
Broken smart meters were high on our list of issues we put to the Government when it came into power, so it is good to see some progress. Far too many smart meters, likely one in five, don't work as they should – a problem not just for all the homes with broken ones, but for the smart meter rollout.
' He added, 'With so many dissatisfied customers, word-of-mouth is bad, so people tell their friends and neighbours not to get one. ' Under the new rules, your energy supplier will have up to 90 days to fix your faulty smart meter or face a penalty. If your smart meter isn't sending readings to your supplier and isn't fixed within 90 days of your supplier being made aware of the issue, it will now face enforcement action by energy regulator Ofgem.
The specific penalties suppliers will face for non-compliance have not been detailed. People may be eligible for £40 in compensation if a reported issue isn't resolved in accordance with the new standards, though the administration process and exact conditions for this compensation are not yet specified. ' He noted, 'That's the aim of this plan, and while it's taking a softer approach than we proposed, it is an improvement, and we'll be monitoring to see if it delivers.
With so many dissatisfied customers, word-of-mouth is bad, so people tell their friends and neighbours not to get one. We need to shift firms' focus from just installing smart meters to promptly fixing those that are broken – not just meters that go into dumb mode, but crucially all elements, including in-home displays that stop working.
' The exact details and implementation timeline of the Consumer Charter are still unknown. Citizen's Advice states that people should contact their supplier as soon as possible if the smart meter isn’t working as it should. The enforcement actions Ofgem will take against suppliers who violate the new rules have not been publicly outlined.