Britain’s smart meter roll-out delayed until 2024

Around 53 million households and businesses were supposed to have smart meters by 2020, however Ministers now expect that only half of households will have one installed by next year and that the cost of the rollout will rise from £11 billion in 2016 to £13.5 billion today, although total energy savings are set to rise from £16.73 billion to £19.56 billion.

The Government had previously insisted the 2020 rollout was achievable, despite energy industry heads warning that the technology was not ready.

Energy research firm Cornwall Insights revealed in June that the current installation rate would need to quadruple in order to meet the 2020 target, which is the equivalent of 51,000 meters per day.

Lawrence Slade, chief executive of the sector’s trade association, Energy UK, believes that suppliers have been working tirelessly to meet the 2020 deadline and offer all households a smart meter so that as many customers as possible can benefit by saving energy and money – as millions of smart meter owners have already reported.

“The energy sector is committed to working with the Government and other partners to complete the rollout so we will now consider the proposals in detail to ensure they are deliverable and do not place unreasonable costs on consumers.”

The Minister for Climate Change, Lord Duncan of Springbank, states: "We remain on track for suppliers to offer every home a smart meter by the end of next year, but to maintain momentum beyond 2020 we are proposing strict yearly installation targets for suppliers from 2021. This will deliver even greater benefits for households and reduce emissions."