Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the resilience of smart utility metering systems during national emergencies; and what contingency arrangements are in place to ensure continued access to essential utility services in the event of cyber attacks, telecommunications failures or prolonged power outages.

Smart electricity and gas meter systems offer robust security. Their dedicated communications networks only allow access to authorised parties including energy suppliers and network companies.

Further security protections, developed by industry experts and the Government's National Cyber Security Centre, detect and prevent malicious system activity.

Energy meters continue recording consumption during smart telecommunications outages, with manual readings provided to energy suppliers should automatic meter readings be unavailable.

Consumers’ physical gas and electricity supplies are not dependent on the smart metering system.

Contingency arrangements are in place to support continuity and resilience of electricity and gas supplies