Energy: Meters
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what engagement his Department has had with (a) Ofgem and (b) the Data Communications Company to ensure that households unable to connect to the smart meter network are not excluded from competitive tariffs or financially disadvantaged.
Answered by Martin McCluskey
The Department regularly engages with Ofgem and the Data Communications Company on the smart metering programme. The DCC is obligated to provide WAN coverage to 99.25% of premises across GB and required by licence conditions to seek to provide coverage to all premises where it is practicable and cost proportionate, and to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of coverage. DCC has introduced 4G smart metering communications across GB and is working on a new solution to enable consumer broadband connections (with consumer consent) to carry smart metering communications in this context.
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