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Big six energy company British Gas has insisted the Data and Communications Company (DCC) missed smart meter 'go live' target “does not affect” the rollout.
In a statement, energy secretary Ed Davey said on Thursday that the date from which DCC plans to deliver operational services, which had already been delayed until December, has been pushed back a further four months to April 2016.
In response, British Gas managing director of smart metering Jorge Pikunic said: “British Gas is fully committed to rolling out smart meters to all our customers by 2020. The new date for the DCC going live does not affect this.”
Secure Meters Group chief executive Sanjaya Singhal argued that the DCC delay would have an “adverse impact” on the rollout.
He said: “We already have a challenge on our hands. If DCC is not going to be available until the middle of 2016 or late 2016, assuming it does go ahead, we are all, as suppliers, faced with the deadline of 2020 to install all the meters and that is not going to happen.”
However, speaking to Utility Week, Davey hit back, stating the “slight re-programming” is “not going to have any dramatic effect” on the rollout.
Eon expressed its disappointment in the delay. However, added that it “happened for the right reasons” and will “help ensure the rollout will be as effective as possible, while also minimising disruption to customers”.
Eon’s new business director Don Leiper said: “What’s important now is that we all focus on continuing to make the rollout a success and on reducing the chance of any further delays.”
Energy UK, the voice of the sector, said the energy industry wants the rollout to happen “as quickly as possible”. However, it underlined the importance of getting it right.
In June last year, the National Audit Office (NAO) said the rollout of smart meters has “significant risks” and urged Decc and Ofgem to “stay on top of the situation” to make sure competition between energy companies “actually protects customers from extra costs”.
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