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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and (b) Welsh Government on the rollout of rural broadband to encourage smart meter use.

The national smart metering system in Great Britain is not reliant on broadband for connectivity. The Data Communications Company operates the national communications network for smart metering, which is separate from the internet and uses a variety of technologies, including cellular mobile technology, wireless mesh radio and long-range radio. This dedicated, secure network ensures that only authorised parties, such as energy suppliers, can communicate with meters.

The Government wants to ensure that households and small businesses across Great Britain can benefit from smart metering and has required energy suppliers to establish Smart Energy GB, which is responsible for coordinated consumer engagement activities and working alongside energy suppliers to support consumer uptake.