SSE to pay out £1.2m after missing smart meter installation target

A UK energy company is paying out £1.2m for missing a government-imposed target to install gas and electricity meters.

SSE Energy Services, which is owned by Ovo Energy, failed to meet its annual installation target for customers in 2019.

Under the government’s smart metering implementation programme, suppliers are required by their licence to take “all reasonable steps” to roll out smart meters to all homes and small businesses by mid-2021.

Smart meters allow consumers to monitor energy usage more accurately, as well as eliminating bills based on estimated readings.

The money will be paid into the energy redress fund, to which the company sent £700k last year after failing to meet targets in 2018.

Tony Keeling, managing director of SSE Energy Services, commented: “Today’s news relates to the reporting year of 2019, predating OVO Energy’s ownership of SSE Energy Services, which it acquired in 2020.

“Since OVO’s acquisition of SSE Energy Services, we have significantly improved our smart meter rollout programme, to ensure that we can install smart meters in more homes across the UK - a crucial part of our Plan Zero strategy and the transition to net zero.

“OVO Energy has consistently met and exceeded all of its smart meter targets, with over half of its customers currently benefiting from the technology.”

Ofgem said: “Due to the voluntary payment of £1.2m to Ofgem’s consumer redress fund, Ofgem has decided not to take formal enforcement action.

“Ofgem is closely monitoring suppliers’ approaches to the rollout of smart meters and will use its discretion to hold suppliers to account if they do not meet their obligations.”

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