BEIS’s Monday 16 September announcement that the smart meter rollout deadline would be extended from 2020 to 2024 has been met with mixed reactions. Citizens Advice described the decision as a “common sense move which is good news for consumers”. uSwitch said: “The government has finally bowed to the inevitable and accepted that the 2020 Smart Meter deadline is impossible to meet. The new 2024 plan – which places more onus on energy companies to meet interim installation milestones along the way – suggests ministers are confident that suppliers are close to cracking the technical problems which have plagued the roll out so far.” However, Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said: “The government’s botched delivery of the smart meter rollout has meant that one year out from the original deadline we’re left with nearly 40mn more smart meters needing to be installed.”
