Responding to the close of the latest Ofgem Smart Metering Implementation Programme consultation, Joel Hagan, Chief Executive of Onzo, said:
“The UK Government must ensure that reductions in consumer energy bills and CO2 emissions are the outcome of the implementation of smart metering.
“So far, the smart metering rollout programme appears to have been driven more by political pressure and early movers attempting to gain market advantage, than by focusing on consumer benefit, energy retailer return on investment and appropriate security engineering.
“Key to the success of this rollout will be to ensure the UK smart meter system is designed to accommodate services that go beyond just electricity and gas – value-added services such as heating and hot water control, which utilise the smart grid communications infrastructure. Ofgem should promote competition around data provision – through in-home displays, websites, mobile applications – and value-added services to maximise the benefits to consumers and energy retailers.
“Above all, good security engineering should not be compromised under pressure for an early rollout – it makes no sense to do smart metering twice.”