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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2017 to Question 64508, whether consumers who switch energy provider and whose smart meters are then inoperable in smart mode accrue any benefits from the installation of those meters.

At the time of our latest available official statistics (31 March 2017), we estimate that there were approximately 460,000 SMETS1 meters being operated in traditional mode. Work is underway to allow SMETS1 meters to be operated in smart mode by any energy supplier by enrolling them into the Data and Communications Company.

Smart meters temporarily operating in traditional mode will continue to accurately record energy use and the IHD (In-Home Display) will show energy consumption, helping consumers to save money. Consumers are also able to obtain meter readings via the IHD and so will not have the inconvenience of needing to access the meter interface.