The UK government’s approach to continuing the smart meter rollout under lockdown has been challenged in Scotland and by a trade union.
Under the guidelines issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) at the start of England’s third national lockdown, tradespeople can continue to work in homes where necessary to do so. A spokesperson for BEIS said this would also apply to smart meter installers.
Guidance issued by the Scottish government, which has the right to set its own rules around public health under devolved powers, states that in areas which are in Level 4, covering mainland Scotland, the isles of Skye, Arran, Bute, Gigha, Barra and Vatersay, work is only permitted within a private dwelling if it is essential for the upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household.
With regard to smart meters, this criteria would only be met if there was a health and safety issue or to ensure continuity of supply.
The suspension of work in Scotland has sparked fears of the knock-on effect on the already pressurised timeline for the GB-wide smart meter rollout.
One industry source told Utility Week: “Scotland’s gone into lockdown and I believe BEIS and the Scottish government are having an argument around the wording of essential services and smart metering. The Scottish government has contradicted BEIS’ statement that smart metering is essential services.”
The source added that they believed this, as well as a reluctance of consumers to book appointments in England and Wales, will result in a further slowdown of installations across Britain, although nowhere near on the scale seen last April.
“We’re not going to see a 90 per cent reduction. I think we might see a 15 per cent reduction”, they said.
Utility Week contacted BEIS and asked if there was a disagreement between it and the Scottish Government.
A spokesperson said in response: “The replacement of traditional gas and electricity meters with smart meters is a vital infrastructure upgrade that is making our energy system cheaper, cleaner and more efficient, helping to reduce our contribution to climate change.
“In account of the exceptional circumstances presented by Covid-19, we have extended the obligation on energy suppliers to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to install smart meters until the end of June 2021.”
Elsewhere the GMB Union has written to Paul Scully, under-secretary of state for small business, consumers and labour markets to demand the government changes guidance so meter readers are not forced to go to work.
GMB said the current situation is putting meter readers and the households they visit “at risk of close quarters infection”. With meter readers visiting as many as 200 properties a day, they could inadvertently become “super-spreaders”, the union said.
Matt Roberts, GMB regional organiser, added: “Guidance needs to be changed so that internal meter reading is no longer classified as safe during lockdown and we have proper enforcement of that. Otherwise, bosses will continue take chances with workers’ lives.
“It’s common sense that any internal meter readings should be suspended to minimise the risk of spreading Covid-19. For the sake of a few pennies on a leccy or gas bill, this is clearly not worth the risk.”