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Covid-19 lockdown measures see January smart meter installations fall 40% year-on-year

Richard Simmonds • February 25, 2021

It’s that time of the month again when ElectraLink releases its monthly smart meter installation data and this time it highlights just how much of an impact Covid-19 lockdown measures have had on the smart meter rollout.

First year-on-year data since pandemic

January’s data is somewhat unique due to it being the first to show the true impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the government imposed lockdowns on the smart meter rollout. In January 2020, the virus was little more than rumours coming out of China and society was functioning normally.

January 2021, however, was a whole different ball game with the UK being in its third government imposed national lockdown. 

Energy suppliers had been making some headway on installations during the narrow gap between the second lockdown and this one, but as soon as strict measures were imposed once more the number of smart meters being installed naturally plummeted.

Reinforced safety measures restricted where field engineers could go and as a result, many planned installations were either delayed or cancelled entirely.

According to the ElectraLink data, just 149,000 smart meter installations took place across the UK a significant decline from the 246,000 installed in January 2020.

The areas that saw the highest number of smart meters installed were Eastern England with 21,000 smart meters, Southern England with 20,000 and the East Midlands with 16,000.

Overall, there are now 14.864 million smart meters installed across the UK.

Covid impacts

As well as the lockdowns restricting where field engineers can go and where they can install smart meters there is another issue that could impede the smart meter rollout.


Trust in the scheme was already low among the public but with almost an entire years’ worth of Covid-19 measures, energy suppliers could face increased resistance from homeowners too afraid to allow engineers into their homes.


An energy supplier should make it clear to their customers what safety measures their engineers are taking to ensure that those worried about the virus can be put at ease.


Gas and electricity suppliers are required by their licence to take all reasonable steps to roll out smart meters to all of their domestic and small business customers by the end of June 2021. Failure to do so could result in punishment from Ofgem.


Also read: Energy Suppliers under pressure to step up Smart Meter rollout in 2021- How not to alienate customers

Dyball Associates will keep you informed of the latest changes and our team of energy market consultants can guide you through the steps to enter the UK energy market. Whether you’re looking for electricity and gas systems or support on starting an energy supply company, Dyball Associates can help.

Further Reading

How can smaller energy suppliers be competitive?


Prime Minister announces Covid-19 lockdown easing roadmap: What does it mean for energy suppliers?


How to convince consumers to switch to a smaller energy supplier


Dyball Associates are proud to help new supply businesses successfully launch in the UK market.

 

Through our energy market consultancy services, and the software we've developed, we're supporting new UK electricity and gas suppliers get set up and start supplying.


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