Persuading public on smart meters “taking longer than we thought”

Energy suppliers have told national auditors it is taking much longer than they thought to explain smart electricity meters to the public. The revelation suggests there could be a real […]

Energy suppliers have told national auditors it is taking much longer than they thought to explain smart electricity meters to the public.

The revelation suggests there could be a real headache in store for both government and suppliers to make sure 53 million smart meters are in homes and businesses by 2020.

One supplier told the National Audit Office the average number of telephone calls they had to make and the proportion of failed appointments were higher than they had anticipated.

That was just during a foundation stage of their smart meter plan – suggesting it will take far longer to persuade and give a meter.

Despite this the Government wants to push back the start of a rollout yet again, after it was pushed back year to late 2015.

The NAO said in an update yesterday DECC wants to delay it six to eight weeks more.

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