BEAMA published a briefing on delivering smart meters on 22 November 2023, setting out recommendations for government and energy suppliers on the rollout, flexible pricing and consumer trust1.
The briefing cites figures on consumer attitudes and fuel poverty. It states that 50 per cent of smart meter owners say the meter has helped them save money, and that 14.4 per cent of households in England were expected to be in fuel poverty in 20231. It also cites 86 per cent of people as willing to adopt smarter energy use in their homes1.
The document argues that suppliers can do more to support the rollout and educate households, and that government should encourage more flexible pricing models. It states that a household cannot move onto a time-of-use tariff without a smart meter, and that smart thermostats can reduce heating costs but require smart meters first so consumers can monitor and manage their usage1. It also says consumers must trust the systems and understand that their information is safe and will not be shared without consent1.
"No one should be obliged to install a smart meter, but energy suppliers can do much more to support the rollout and educate households to realise benefit."
The briefing sets out several positions for government and industry: that the remaining rollout should focus on educating consumers about energy efficiency and smart consumption; that government should support smart device innovation with simple set-up and use; and that consumers should be told most technical issues and barriers have now been addressed1. It warns that suspicion of the word "smart" could hold back the future energy grid, and that the interests of the consumer should be at the heart of government policy1.
Why it matters for households
The briefing ties household decisions to grid-level outcomes. A household without a smart meter cannot move onto a time-of-use tariff, which is the mechanism by which shifting consumption away from peak hours can lower a bill1. The same meter is described as the prerequisite for smart thermostats and other devices that monitor and manage energy use1. For a home's energy independence, the practical point is that the meter is the entry point to the data and the tariffs that let a household respond to prices rather than simply consume at whatever the wholesale market charges at that moment. The briefing also raises consent and data security as conditions for that participation, stating that information should not be shared without consent1.
What happens next
No dated next steps are set out in the briefing. It makes recommendations to government and suppliers rather than announcing a programme with milestones, and no timetable for their adoption has been reported1.
Sources1 cited
- Delivering-smart-meters.pdf, beama.org.uk