Smart meters should be made mandatory for all consumers if the UK is to hit its rollout targets and achieve net zero, the boss of Utility Warehouse has said. Stuart Burnett, who has served as the multi-utility retailer’s co-chief executive since 2021, made the comments during an interview with Utility Week in which he raised concerns about the impact of the lack of uptake of the devices. Arguing the case for a mandate, Burnett likened the situation to the digital switchover which saw the transition from analogue television – a process where consumers had no choice.