2.7 million 'not so' smart meters in operation in UK

Customers could be billed incorrectly

Smart meter
Published 4th Dec 2023

2.7 million smart meters in the UK are not functioning correctly, which could lead to customers to be billed wrongly for their energy usage.

Out of approximately 33 million meters which have already been installed, 2.7 million are not in 'smart mode,' as reported by the Government's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ.)

DESNZ acknowledges technical issues with a small proportion of meters and is collaborating with Ofgem, energy suppliers, and data experts to address these issues.

You can check to see if your smart meter is working on the Citizen's Advice website

Smart meters, designed to enhance energy efficiency, measure household gas and electricity usage, providing real-time cost information. However, when disconnected from the national network, customers often face estimated bills, leading to payment discrepancies.

The latest figures show there are still almost 21.5 million people without smart meters installed.

The government, emphasizing the importance of smart meters for energy efficiency, aims to install them in most homes by the end of 2025. Initially in 2013 the Government said it expected all homes to have them by 2020.

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