Covid-19 had a “significant effect” on smart electricity meter installations in 2020, data from Electralink’s data transfer service team has found.
In total, just under two million were installed across the 12 months, which is down 27 per cent on 2019 and the lowest number since 2016.
The first national lockdown which started in March is cited as the biggest hit to the rollout when all but essential installations were postponed. Thanks to new guidance, Electralink says energy retailers and their field teams have since “caught up somewhat”.
December saw 172,000 new smart meters installed across England, Scotland and Wales following a slowdown of non-urgent installations. This is 25 percent less than November 2020 and brings the overall cumulative total to 14.7 million installations since the programme began.
East England once again topped the charts with 23,000 installations last month, followed by Southern England with 22,000 and 17,000 in the East Midlands.
Earlier this month the government confirmed smart meter installations will still be allowed to continue despite the new national lockdown.
Guidance states that where it is necessary to work in homes, tradespeople can continue to do so.
Meanwhile Ofgem’s latest consumer perception survey reported that more than 70 per cent of consumers say they are satisfied with their smart meter, the highest level recorded.
According to the latest figures from the Data Communications Company (DCC) 9.6 million devices have been connected to its national network, of which there are 6.4 million second-generation (SMETS2) meters.