ENERGYNCC calls for caution over smart metersINTRODUCTION:
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[August 11, 2008]

ENERGYNCC calls for caution over smart metersINTRODUCTION:

(Utility Week Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)
by Roger Milne

A consumer watchdog has called for safeguards to ensure the rollout of smart meters to households is financially fair for customers and that measures are adopted to prevent remote switching and disconnection.

These issues were highlighted in a report on the consumer protection implications of smart meters published by the National Consumer Council (NCC). The report was commissioned from consultancy Sustainability First.

The NCC listed other key issues crucial to the successful introduction of smart metering:

leliminating the differential between prepayment meters and standard credit tariffs

lproviding information in a standard format so consumers can make comparisons

lmeasures to safeguard consumers from mis-selling



lmaking available independent advice for consumers.

The report said smart meters raised potential data protection and security issues and urged the government, Ofgem and the Information Commissioner's Office to look at data issues to make sure consumer protection was adequate.



The authors of the report, Gill Owen and Judith Ward, said smart meters would benefit prepayment customers, although much of the benefit might be in the form of "better and new services rather than dramatic price cuts".

They argued that while smart meters should eventually mean fewer complaints, the new technology would involve technical problems (installer quality, meter malfunction and communications and billing interface) that would require suppliers to have adequate and properly trained customer service staff.

Copyright ? 2008 Reed Business Information - UK. All Rights Reserved.

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