BSRIA asks: do smart meters still make sense?

Julia Evans, Chief Executive, BSRIA, commented: “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 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 such as phones, 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% 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%.

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.