Satisfaction high among early smart meter adopters

UK customers who have already received smart meters display a high level of satisfaction with their devices, according to a report from Smart Energy GB.

Based on a survey of over 10,000 adults in the UK, 81 per cent of those who have received smart meters from their energy suppliers would recommend them to others. Furthermore, respondents on lower incomes were even more likely to recommend smart meter adoption to others (88 per cent).

The findings are part of a bi-annual update delivered by Smart Energy GB, which is responsible for public awareness about the national roll out of smart meters.

Other insights in the report claim that 82 per cent of people who have smart meters have taken at least one step to reduce energy usage and that 87 per cent of those with smart meters believe they now have a better idea of what they are spending on energy. Seventy per cent of respondents with smart meters said they feel confident that they have the information they need in order to choose the right energy tariff, compared to 57 per cent of respondents without smart meters.

The survey also found that customers with smart meters are generally positive about their in home displays (IHD). Nine in ten customers with smart meters have accepted the offer of an IHD to accompany the device and they generally display higher levels of satisfaction than those who have turned them down.

Smart Energy GB reports that almost 5 million smart meters have now been installed in the UK and that 33 per cent of respondents to its latest survey now say they understand what a smart meter is. This compares to 25 per cent in February 2016.

The report does not address the issue that all current smart meters are SMETS 1 or earlier iteration meter installations. Concerns have been expressed that these meters will carry interoperability issues for customers, meaning they cannot be switched between suppliers while maintaining smart functionality. This could damage customer experience, commentators, including speakers at the Utility Week Congress 2016, have said.

Smart Energy GB does, however, report that concern about smart meters is low among the UK public. Just 4 per cent of survey respondents said they have worries about hacking and privacy and just 1 per cent expressed concerns about the costs of the roll out being passed on to consumers.

At a committee hearing yesterday, Pete Moorey, head of campaigns at consumer watchdog Which? said that the Competition and Markets Authority’s remedies for energy market failures were too reliant on the success of smart meters. He said there is a risk the roll out will not deliver the expected benefits to consumers.