The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) wrote to Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, to warn that while the government’s narrow definition of what counts as a “faulty meter” might suggest that only 10% of smart meters have gone dumb, the consumer group’s own research has suggested that about 20% of home smart meters are not working properly.
‘A mess’: energy suppliers face scramble to install smart meters in UK homes The government is facing criticism over the rollout of the scheme, as spiralling costs and faulty meters slow progress.
There are 24m gas meters and 29m electricity meters installed and the government’s latest data shows that 680,000 smart meters were installed in homes in the third quarter of last year.
Research by Citizens Advice late last year found that people with smart meters are generally more satisfied with their bills than those on non-smart meters, but 49% of those it had helped with an estimated or inaccurate billing issue had a smart meter.
Smart meters, like traditional energy meters, measure how much gas and electricity is used and send data to suppliers.
