BSRIA has commented on the take up and value for money of smart meters being fitted in UK homes.
DECC’s (Department of Energy & Climate Change) own figures suggest that at the end of 2015 only 2.3 million meters were deployed in smart mode of some 51 million due to be installed by end 2020.
Julia Evans, Chief Executive, BSRIA, said: “This suggests a mountain still to climb, doubtless accompanied by avalanches of controversy about concerns both real and imagined – including costs and data protection.”
A report in April by the IoD (Institute of Directors) advised that the UK smart meter rollout be halted and and re-evaluated. The main concern of industry is that the current generation of meters were not fit for purpose and that the government was pressing ahead with a very aggressive rollout schedule while testing and evaluation were still ongoing.
With technology evolving so fast – especially where smart access – from devices, phones etc – and smart appliances are concerned, it is going to be difficult to “pin this down to everyone’s satisfaction”.
Another interesting report from the EU highlights that of 27 countries that signed up to the original 2009 commitment to have smart meters rolled out to over 80 per cent by the end of 2020 only 17 claim to be on track, and the UK is one of only nine that expect to reach 100 per cent.
However, should the UK vote to leave the EU, then all this might be academic. Although the scheme is pretty much down to the individual governments to implement as they please.
