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Government has confirmed that energy firms and companies involved in the smart meter rollout won't fall foul of new rules intended to ensure only one party has overall control of data and communications activity.
The department of energy and climate change (Decc) is developing a draft Order so that only a licenced firm can carry out data and communications company (DCC) duties for the smart meter rollout. Once this order is made law Decc can then tender the DCC role, which involves overseeing all the data and communications activities associated with smart meters.
Energy companies and meter companies, as well as existing industry bodies, had been concerned that their current work – handling energy data, managing industry processes, installing and testing new meters and even just handling the data from prepayment keys – could mean they fell foul of the Order.
In its response to the consultation Decc confirmed today that there will be an exemption to the Order, which has now been laid before Parliament.
Firms will be exempt for three years from when the Order comes into force. After that, Decc said it intends to introduce specific exemptions for certain types of activities, such as supporting early smart meters until they are replaced.
See the response here.
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