Consumers 'need to be at the heart' of smart meter plans - 02/02/2012
Clarifications from the government that smart meters will not be mandatory for households should act as a wake-up call for energy suppliers, it has been stated.
Energy expert at Consumer Focus Zoe McLeod said by making the installation of the technology voluntary for domestic energy users, the industry will need to persuade individuals of the benefits of the scheme to prevent people from opting out.
She added while there are several advantages to smart meters, such as the potential to help customers cut their energy use and get cheaper bills, there remain several concerns that need to be addressed, such as privacy.
"It is important that customers with concerns should be able to choose to have a smart meter and access the benefits that come with it, but have options to control what data they share," Ms McLeod said.
Recently, the House of Commons' Public Accounts Committee urged the government to add greater protections to the smart meter rollout to ensure vulnerable customers are not left out of pocket.
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