Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 53
53
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 206
We call on Ofgem to enforce its New and Replacement Obligation in the supplier licence.
Recommendation
We call on Ofgem to enforce its New and Replacement Obligation in the supplier licence. We recommend that the Government makes it mandatory for all prepayment households to have a smart meter installed urgently, irrespective of supplier, so that 82 Energy pricing and the future of the energy market it is easier to identify when customers are struggling to maintain supply and provide emergency credit. We recommend that Ofgem and BEIS set a target to end all self- disconnections by the end of the smart meter roll out (end of 2025).
Government Response Summary
Ofgem agrees with the benefits of smart prepayment meters but is focused on other areas due to resource constraints; they expect new non-smart meter installations to decline as customers become more aware of the benefits and stocks of traditional equipment falls.
Paragraph Reference:
206
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Ofgem agrees with the Committee’s assessment of the benefits of Smart prepayment meters. Ofgem is committed to ensuring that customers receive all the benefits of fully working and interoperable smart meters, however enforcement activity is currently focused on other areas of work due to resource constraints. Larger suppliers have recently informed Ofgem that installations of traditional (non- smart) meter equipment is decreasing. Where a traditional meter is used for an installation or meter replacement, this is because the customer has specifically requested not to have a smart meter, or where a smart meter cannot be fitted due to space or technological constraints. Ofgem expects that new non-smart meter installations will further decline in the future as customers become more aware of the benefits of smart meters and stocks of traditional equipment falls.