Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what comparative assessment he has made of standing charges for energy consumers where a smart meter (a) has and (b) has not been installed; and if he will make a statement.

No such assessment has been made.

Smart metering costs are paid by suppliers, who pass the net costs or savings through to customers over the life of the Smart Metering Programme. Consumers will continue to pay for their metering service as they do now for their traditional meters, through their energy bills.

Smart meters are expected to take £300 million off household energy bills in 2020 alone. Overall, the roll-out is set to deliver significant net benefits to consumers, estimated at £5.7 billion over the lifetime of the Programme.