Smart meter installations will still be allowed to continue despite the new national lockdown taking effect from today (5 January), the government has confirmed.
Under previous restrictions, suppliers were only allowed to install the devices under exceptional circumstances, such as to ensure customers remained on supply.
However following the prime minister’s announcement that England would once again be placed under the toughest coronavirus restrictions, guidance published by the government states that where it is necessary to work in homes, tradespeople can continue to do so.
A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy confirmed this would also apply to smart meter installers.
Meanwhile Ofgem says it understands that suppliers may temporarily deprioritise non-essential installations, but added that it expects retailers to continue essential/emergency visits.
A spokesperson said: “It is critical that suppliers take into account prevailing government advice in the jurisdictions in which they operate, and deliver against their obligations within the parameters of that prevailing government advice.
“We will continue to take a pragmatic view of compliance particularly in those areas where face to-face appointments with customers are necessary, such as smart meter deployment.”
Following the decision to stop all non-essential home visits last year, there was a 95 per cent decrease in installations during the lockdown.
The rollout has subsequently recovered.