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SSE has called for a drop in the target for smart meter coverage to 80 per cent by 2020.
Responding to a straw poll by Utility Week asking whether energy suppliers would support a lower target, the company said: “SSE believes we must reassess the deadline and consider reverting to the EU-mandated target of 80 per cent by 2020 in order to protect the net benefits for customers.”
Currently, the UK is committed to a target of 97 per cent coverage by 2020. However, many in the industry believe this target will be difficult to achieve following a series of delays to the start of the official rollout.
Energy UK chief executive Lawrence Slade told Utility Week: “It’s always going to be challenging to say we are going to get a smart meter into every house regardless of the situation.
“There are challenges around timescale and technology but we know that every company is committed to rolling out. That could mean 80 or it could mean 90 per cent. Ultimately, everyone will agree it’s difficult and it’s how close everyone can get to that.”
The other big six suppliers contacted by Utility Week for the poll declined to comment with the exception of Eon which agreed it had “concerns” over the current timescales.
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