Blog Post

The backlash against SSEN Smart Meter plans increases

Richard Simmonds • September 21, 2020

The backlash against plans to allow energy networks to switch off a household’s energy intensive devices at times of strain on supply via smart meters has increased.

What are the proposals?

The proposals were made as part of a wider consultation over how the UK’s energy grid can be improved and modernised in the drive towards greener energy.

One of SSEN’s proposals would see consumers with next generation smart meters could have their energy intensive devices such as heat pumps and EV charging ports turned at times of emergency. It stresses that the measures would be voluntary and only last for up to two hours at a time.

“The proposed modification has been tabled to provide a last resort contingency measure, protecting the security of customer supplies during an emergency scenario. Our preference for managing peaks in electric vehicle demand would always be a market-based solution such as a time-of-use tariff, provided by energy suppliers. This proposal provides an additional safeguard in exceptional circumstances,” said an SSEN spokesman.

Backlash

With confidence in the smart meter rollout already pretty low amongst consumers and the wider energy industry following a series of debacles, the suggestion that smart meters would enable energy companies the ability to switch off a consumers heating at will has heightened concerns over security and privacy.

Even with SSEN stating that such actions can only be taken with the consumers' full consent it has done little to stop the media running headlines critical of the plans.

Consumer groups have voiced their concerns and critics of the government’s green energy push are using the proposals as proof that the surge towards green energy is not viable.

With millions of Evs needed to be adopted and electricity intensive heat pumps needed to achieve the governments NetZero target, there are growing concerns that the UK’s energy grid will struggle to keep up with the increase in demand.

“I would have considerable concern about the impact of these measures. I would be particularly concerned about the more vulnerable households, and of course, vulnerability is not in a constant state for individuals. We encourage creativity because we know potential issues are coming with meeting peak demand, but the industry has to find solutions to these problems and not expect consumers and households to help,” said Peter Earl from Compare the Market.

Renewable Energy concerns

Critics of the plans have also said that they highlight concerns over the reliability of making an all green economy.

They argue that wind and solar power is great when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining but on a still, cloudy day they are next to useless and such scenarios often see National Grid turning to fossil fuel power stations to fill the gaps in supply.

Firing up coal or gas power stations is expensive and so worries are growing that energy prices will surge higher as a consequence.

Energy Supplier targets

Energy suppliers already have a tough time convincing consumers to adopt smart meters as it is.

Negative headlines such as the ones splashing the newspapers and news sites on this subject will likely make it even harder to convince them of the benefits of smart meters.