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The government has confirmed that the UK’s national programme which links smart meters to energy suppliers will now not be ready until the autumn. The government wants every home and business to be offered a smart meter by the end of 2020. That requires 53 million meters to be fitted in over 30 million premises over the next four years. The system was supposed to be switched on Wednesday 17th August.
Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said “Smart meters can transform the way people use and pay for their energy. “This is now the third time in 18 months that this IT project has been pushed back and we are concerned that the delay to this important communications system will make it harder to meet the 2020 deadline for the roll-out of smart meters. This could make the overall project more expensive and hit consumers with higher bills down the line. “It’s crucial that the government is clear on whether the compressed timetable for installation will result in additional costs to consumers.”