Recommendation 10

The Department told us that real-time data offered by a smart meter means that all types of consumer can benefit from having a smart meter installed, and that its early learning project identified that people with smart meters who were fuel-poor were benefiting similarly to people who were not.30 Smart Energy GB has a duty to ensure consumers in vulnerable circumstances are not ‘left behind’ and conducts surveys to identify smart meter uptake by demographic characteristics.31 Its recent data show consumers that are older, on higher incomes, male, and homeowners are more likely to have smart meters. Consumers that are young, female, on low salaries, and private renters are less likely to have smart meters.32 Wealthier consumers are also more likely than others to be able to replace inefficient appliances (such as washing machines), for example if their smart meter 21 Q 65 22 C&AG’s Report, Figure 3 23 Q 65 24 URM0005 25 Q 98; C&AG’s Report, para 2.8 26 C&AG’s Report, para 2.10 27 Q 88 28 C&AG’s Report, para 17 29 C&AG’s Report, para 2.11 30 Qq 119–120 31 C&AG’s Report, para 1.13, Figure 8 32 C&AG’s Report, Figure 8 12 Update on the rollout of smart meters suggests an older washing machine has relatively high running costs.33 In correspondence to the Committee after the session, Smart Energy GB told us that it has a specific team focused on vulnerable consumers who also lead on working with a range of local and national partners who are trusted voices for vulnerable customer segments, including Carers UK.34 Smart meter coverage by geography