Opinion: energy giants should convince us smart meters are worthwhile rather than forcing them on us

As the boss of British Gas calls for compulsory smart meter installations, Katy Ward argues that a less shambolic rollout of the devices would have meant such actions were never necessary in the first place.

All UK households should be forced to have a smart meter, according to British Gas boss Chris O’Shea.

The CEO last week told a group of MPs that mandatory installations could cut the cost of creating a smart grid across the UK.

If he had his way, the programme would take place on a 'street-by-street' basis, with British Gas potentially installing meters on behalf of other energy companies.

His comments were made during a select committee hearing on ways to reduce crushingly high energy bills.

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So, what’s the problem?

We’re all in favour of saving money, but what O’Shea is suggesting is quite frankly a terrible idea.

To start, his timing could hardly have been worse.

Only two months ago, the Government’s own figures revealed that almost four million devices currently fitted in people’s homes may be defective.

Futhermore, a recent Money Mail investigation revealed that inaccurate smart meter readings could add £50 per year to some users’ bills.

I also feel O’Shea’s suggestion is a little too authoritarian.

None of us likes the idea of having something forced on us in our own homes, especially when the device in question has been plagued by problems since day one.

It almost feels as though he’s saying that we don’t know what’s good for us and need energy companies to make decisions on our behalf.

A history of blunders

Last year, GoCompare surveyed its members on smart meters and found that almost three in 10 (28%) disliked the devices.

To fully understand why so many households might be sceptical of smart meters, we need to go back to their rollout in 2011.

As soon as these devices entered UK homes, people began experiencing problems.

Some reported faulty displays and others continued to receive estimated bills despite having a smart meter.

Perhaps the most common problem related to switching suppliers.

In many cases, the devices simply stopped working when a customer moved to a new provider.

In fact, the occurrence was so common that many people jokingly referred to meters not working in smart mode as having ‘gone dumb’.

In an attempt to address these issues, energy companies began the rollout of second-generation meters in 2019, which they promised would continue to work if you moved to a new supplier.

Given that it's the British public who are funding the smart meter rollout through their bills, it would have been handy if these issues had been ironed out before the first rollout began.

Regardless, it already felt too little too late for many households for whom the reputation of these devices had already been damaged beyond repair.

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Years behind schedule

Back in 2011, the Government and energy giants announced a target to have smart meters in every home by 2020.

However, it soon became clear that they had overpromised and would underdeliver.

More than a decade after the initial roll-out, these deadlines have shifted three times.

And in 2019, the Government announced its current target to have smart meters in 74.5% of homes and nearly 69% of small businesses by the end of 2025.

The chances of meeting this latest deadline are not looking good. At the end of March 2023, just 57% of all electricity and gas meters were smart.

And it probably doesn’t help that the process or arranging an installation can be a hassle.

Energy companies often provide long windows during which they’ll arrive and people often need to turn off their energy supply while the device is fitted.

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What’s the right answer?

In the interest of fairness, it’s probably a good time to point out that smart meters aren’t inherently a bad idea.

If they worked correctly, these devices could spell an end to estimated billing and the hassle of submitting monthly readings.

But therein lies the problem: smart meters need to work properly and be delivered to a competent standard to build higher levels of trust.

If energy giants were to solve the technical glitches and inaccurate readings, more people would surely be willing to have one of these devices fitted.

One thing is certain: many people won't respond well to having one forced on them given all that's come before.