Government introduces 90-day timeframe for repairs, with Ofgem ready to impose fines and penalties where work is not completed in time.
Technology is great – when it works. It can be incredibly frustrating when it doesn’t, especially if the technology in question affects how much we have to pay in bills.
Photo by Arthur Lambillotte / Unsplash
That’s why the government’s announcement of stricter new rules on energy suppliers could be good news for householders. Energy suppliers are already required by law to take all reasonable steps to fix smart meters that aren’t working as they should. Under new obligations, repairs must be completed within 90 days of notification of a fault. Suppliers failing to comply will face penalties and fines.
The aim is to ensure that energy suppliers fix faulty meters quickly, cutting waiting times for billpayers and saving money on bills.
The government estimates that 92% of smart meters operate as they should, but for the 8% that go wrong, repairs are not enacted in a timely enough fashion. It cites a particular problem of meters not operating in smart mode, meaning they do not send automatic meter readings to suppliers. That then affects the amounts customers are expected to pay in bills.
Last month, regulator Ofgem brought in another new rule. Consumers are now also eligible for £40 in compensation where they problems in installing a smart meter, such as through delayed or failed installations.
Martin McCluskey MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, says: ‘Smart meters are already helping millions of people manage their energy use and save on bills. But we know far too many people can be waiting several months for their smart meter to be fixed – and losing money in the process.
‘These new rules will put an end to this, making sure meters are fixed in good time – driving up standards, protecting billpayers, and helping more consumers feel the benefits of having a smart meter.’
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