Policy & Research
Smart meters
Smart metering – Go Smart
Government wants all of us to have our gas and electricity meters replaced with smart meters by 2019. Some companies are already rolling out this new technology and there are expected to be at least two million new meters on the walls by 2012.
Rollout will be a major undertaking involving visits to every home in Great Britain and many small businesses. It has the potential to radically change the energy retail market, the products and services we are offered, and how customers use and are charged for energy.
Consumer Focus is working to ensure that all customers are protected in a smart world and that everyone benefits, no matter where they live, what their circumstances or how wealthy they are. The installation of smart meters is estimated to cost more than £11 billion - energy customers need to know they are getting value for money for the smart meters they are paying for.
We’ve put together a Frequently Asked Questions section to answer any questions that you might have on getting a smart meter.
For a summary of our work on smart meters, see:
- Focus On Smart Metering (PDF 2.7MB)
- Response to the Smart Metering Decision Document May 2011. WEET (PDF 656KB)
Further information:
- What is a smart meter?
- Key issues
- How we represent consumers
- Consultation responses and submissions
- Research
Useful links:
Latest News
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Smart for All – Delivering benefits to low income and vulnerable consumers
21 November 2012
Zoe McLeod, Head of Smart & Sustainable Energy Markets Consumer Focus’s key asks for Government and industry to ensure low income and consumers in vulnerable situations also benefit from the roll-out of smart meters 21 November 2012 All Party Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency Group’s Annual General Meeting
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June e-newsletter: Smart meters guide, challenges and risks of the digital age and more
2 July 2012
This month: • Our new guide to smart meters • Join the discussion on the challenges and risks of the digital age • Delivery checklist and workshops for energy efficiency • Our research into Royal Mail's 'delivery to neighbour' trial
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As half of us have never heard of smart meters – Consumer Focus helps you to get smart on the new technology
30 May 2012
Consumer Focus is today (Weds 30 May) launching a new advice guide on smart meters. It aims to help consumers understand what having a smart meter will mean for them, ahead of the wider roll-out.1 The guide is being launched as new Consumer Focus research shows that nearly half of consumers (48 per cent) have [...]
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Smart moves on meters but a closer eye is needed on costs – says consumer watchdog
5 April 2012
Responding to DECC’s announcements on smart meters today, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘There is good news here for customers with wins on data privacy, sales and marketing and engagement with consumers. But we continue to have concerns that the costs of the scheme may be underestimated and that costs for [...]
more news on: smart meters
Latest Publications
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Smart Prepayment in Great Britain – Making prepay energy work in a smart world
8 May 2013
The regulatory framework for smart meter rollout in Great Britain has been under development for a number of years. Consumer Focus, as the statutory watchdog for energy consumers, has been representing customers’ interests as part of this process. Accenture, the global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, has been involved in supporting a large [...]
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Smart for all – Understanding consumer vulnerability during the experience of smart meter installation
21 November 2012
National Energy Action (NEA) and Consumer Focus are concerned that some consumers in vulnerable positions may not be able to access all of the advantages that smart metering offers. In conjunction with DECC, Consumer Focus and NEA wish to identify issues experienced by consumers on a low-income or in a vulnerable position in relation to the installation of smart meters.
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Getting to grips with smart displays – Research review
7 November 2011
The Government has said it would consider how best to ensure that, when providing customers with In-Home Displays (IHDs), suppliers meet consumers' accessibility requirements in order to support customers to reduce their energy consumption in both the short and longer term. With this in mind Consumer Focus commissioned Ricability, a specialist consumer research organisation to review relevant reports, guidelines and published papers in order to shed light on factors that can affect usability of IHDs.
more publications on: smart meters
