In a setback for the UK’s energy digitalisation efforts, the number of smart meters failing to operate in “smart mode” has surged by nearly 50% in the latter half of 2023, official figures reveal. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the count of malfunctioning units rose to 3.98 million by December 2023, up from 2.7 million in June.
The sharp increase has been attributed to a data reporting error in June’s figures, raising questions about data management and reporting accuracy within the smart metering infrastructure. Despite this, the incident sheds light on the broader challenges of deploying smart meters across the nation, which are crucial for monitoring energy consumption in real-time and enabling efficient billing processes.
The devices, designed to provide real-time information to customers and energy firms, operate by sending information from homes to energy firms via mobile phone networks. Yet the rising number of faulty meters means energy firms aren’t receiving accurate data, leaving households having to rely on bill estimations as opposed to actual usage. Energy UK, which speaks for the suppliers installing meters, said technical problems, such as a lack of mobile signals, are to blame for the smart meters turning ‘dumb’.
“If smart meters don’t function flawlessly, they’re anything but smart,” GVP and Head of Sales EMEA North at Informatica Greg Hanson commented to IoT Insider. “This can have a negative and long-term impact on customer satisfaction. Energy providers need to be 100% confident in the information they receive and analyse from smart meters, to provide the most accurate pricing information. When meters provide utilities companies with the wrong data, customers are left frustrated, facing inaccurate bills, and they lose trust in their energy provider.”
The malfunctioning meters have not only led to billing inaccuracies but also highlighted the essential need for reliable data transmission between smart meters and energy suppliers. Instances like Jilly Bond’s, where her smart meter billed her for a property 270 miles away, underscore the potential for significant inconveniences and the importance of swift resolutions.
Driven by the drive to net zero and increasingly energy supply side shortages, the UK’s journey towards energy digitalisation is aiming to create a more resilient and more efficient and sustainable energy system. Smart meters, rolled out by the Data Communications Company for better consumption monitoring, aim to addressing challenges like the scale of data processing.
“While smart meters are pivotal in moving the UK towards a more sustainable and efficient energy model, they rely on accurate and trusted data to work properly,” elaborates Hanson.
The UK are currently in the development of a digital spine for interoperability and supporting projects through Ofgem and Innovate UK to automate asset registration and encourage data best practices. These initiatives, part of the broader strategy outlined in the Government’s 2020 Energy White Paper, aim to reduce energy system costs significantly by 2050 while fostering job creation and ensuring the sector’s transformation aligns with digital and net zero ambitions.
In light of the issues, Smart Energy GB, a body promoting the adoption of smart meters, pointed out an uptick in the proportion of meters functioning correctly. By the end of 2023, 88.6% of nearly 35 million installed meters were operating as intended, marking a slight improvement from the previous year.
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