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Microbusinesses face obstacles which could prevent them from realising the full benefits of smart meters, Smart Energy GB has warned.
The campaign group for the national smart meter rollout has suggested small businesses are not fully informed about smart meters, with only 5 per cent having proactively requested one so far.
It said it will extend its domestic consumer message to the more than 2 million microbusinesses that have separate premises, to ensure they are “positive about the benefits”.
Barriers include: perceived disruption to business as usual; a lack of awareness or belief in the benefits smart meters; and confusion between advanced metering and smart metering.
In a consultation document, the group said it understood there are “differences of supply” within the non-domestic market, including disparity in energy supplier choice, the presence of more independents, greater use of third party intermediaries and energy brokers, and a lack of transparency in energy pricing.
The group warned that these factors will “likely have an impact on the relationship between microbusinesses and the energy they use”.
Mains electricity was cited as the number one cost concern by 46 per cent of small businesses in a 2014 report by Citizens Advice. According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s 2014 Smart Meter Impact Assessment, smart meters could save microbusinesses approximately £1.44 billion in net benefits.
Smart Energy GB chief executive Sacha Deshmukh said: “Smart Energy GB has a big task ahead, to make sure that everyone in Great Britain can say yes to a smart meter and will understand how to use one to better manage their gas and electricity.”
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