“The Government is at a crossroads. It
can continue with its current approach and risk embarrassment through
public disengagement on a flagship energy policy, or it can grip the
reins and steer the energy industry along a more successful path.”
3/8/15, "Government's smart energy meter initiative threatens to be 'costly failure,' claim MPs," UK Independent, Alexander Ward
"A Government initiative to provide smart energy meters for every
house and business in the UK is at risk of being a “costly failure”, MPs
have warned.
The Energy and Climate Change Committee criticised the plan which
could see consumers foot the £11bn bill required to install the meters
nationwide. They also voiced concerns over delays to the project and
questioned whether the contract holder Data Communications Company
(DCC), a Capita subsidiary, was “capable of delivering what it
requires”.
The smart meters, described as the next generation of
gas and electricity readers, provide consumers with real time
information on their energy use in pounds and pence. Experts believe
they will lead to reduced emissions and lower bills as families are able
to monitor their consumption, rather than rely on estimated billing.
But
the target of a nationwide roll-out by 2020 has been labelled unlikely,
partly as a result of DCC proposing to push the start date to 2016.
In
the report, the Committee said: “Without significant and immediate
changes to the present policy, the programme runs the risk of falling
far short of expectations.”
Technical difficulties have also
occurred concerning houses of multiple occupancy and tall buildings.
According to the report, smart meters would be unable to work in
buildings where multiple gas and electricity meters were already in
place because they could not “communicate” with each other.
Tim Yeo, Chair of the Committee, said: “Time is running out on the
Government’s plan to install smart meters in each of the UK’s 30 million
homes and businesses by 2020. Smart meters could generate more than
£17bn in energy savings for the country yet a series of technical and
other issues have resulted in delays to the planned roll-out....
“The Government is at a crossroads. It
can continue with its current approach and risk embarrassment through
public disengagement on a flagship energy policy, or it can grip the
reins and steer the energy industry along a more successful path.”
In
response to the criticisms, a spokesperson from Capita said: “During
the course of the programme a number of significant changes have emerged
in finalising the technical requirements and specifications on which
DCC’s solution depends. So it is right and proper that DCC should review
its plan.”"...
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11 billion UK=$16.54 billion US
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