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NEA NI’s Response to the Department for the Economy’s Consultation on the Design Plan for the Roll-Out of Smart Electricity Meters in Northern Ireland

NEA NI’s Response to the Department for the Economy’s Consultation on the Design Plan for the Roll-Out of Smart Electricity Meters in Northern Ireland

NEA has a long-standing interest in smart meters and their roll-out in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, particularly with regard to their impact for vulnerable and fuel poor consumers.

We agree with the guiding principles for the smart metering programme. We particularly welcome the commitment to ensuring that consumers are at the heart of smart metering  and the commitment to enable all consumers, especially the vulnerable, to participate and benefit from the programme.

These principles align with our mission to end fuel poverty, as NEA believes that smart metering has the potential to provide real benefits for vulnerable and low-income households. In particular, we are supportive of the capacity of smart meters to end estimated billing, to provide greater control over personal energy use, and to make payment for ‘pay as you go’ energy and the provision of emergency support more convenient.

However, these benefits will only be realised if individuals are effectively engaged and supported throughout their smart meter journey. Therefore, we agree with the commitment to consumer engagement, participation, and supporting consumers’ behavioural change.

The focus on fairness, transparency, and equitable costs and benefits aligns with our support for a Just Transition. The commitments to the safeguarding of personal data  will support fostering consumer trust and engagement, which are vital for success of the smart metering programme.

You can download the full response from the link under ‘Resources’.

Resources

Response to the Department for the Economy's Consultation on the Design Plan for the Roll-Out of Smart Electricity Meters in NI
Download the report

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