MPs to quiz BEIS officials over smart meter rollout

A leading group of MPs is to quiz leading civil servants over the rollout of smart meters, following the publication of a highly-critical National Audit Office (NAO) report.

It was announced today that officials from the department for business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS) will appear before the business, energy and industrial strategy select committee on 9 January.

The hearing has been organised following the publication of a NAO report, which warned that the government’s original ambition of offering a smart meter to every home by 2020 will not be met, whilst the cost of the rollout will likely “escalate beyond initial expectations”.

The report, which was published today (23 November) added that the government has also “underestimated” how long it would take to implement the infrastructure of SMETS2 smart meter devices, according to the spending watchdog.

“The NAO’s report highlights the massive delays and problems associated with the roll-out of smart meters. Costs are rising, and the 2020 target will not be met,” said committee chairman, Rachel Reeves.

“Consumers have faced considerable frustration, experiencing glitches with their meters, or finding their smart meters go ‘dumb’ when switching supplier,” added Reeves.

“It’s important that consumers are genuinely able to realise the savings available from having smart meters installed in their homes.

“The department for business, energy and industrial strategy have serious questions to answer about their management of the smart meter roll-out programme and, as a committee, we will be keen to examine in our evidence hearing in the New Year whether it is feasible, desirable and cost-effective to continue to plough ahead with the government’s 2020 target.”