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Britain's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has declared war on smart meter failures with "tough new obligations" for energy suppliers, acknowledging systemic flaws in the nation's £13 billion rollout. The measures include mandatory £40 compensation for customers waiting over six weeks for installations or repairs, and accelerated migration from dying 2G/3G networks to 4G connectivity.

The Scale of the Crisis

  • 4 million smart meters currently operate in "dumb mode" according to Ofgem data
  • 7 million devices risk disconnection as mobile networks sunset 2G/3G services
  • 600,000 meters reactivated since July 2024—just 15% of known failures

"We know many customers face unacceptable delays," admitted Charlotte Friel, Ofgem's retail pricing director. The regulator's new Guaranteed Standards of Performance (effective post-2025) will force suppliers to:
1. Install meters with "minimal disruption"
2. Investigate faults within 15 days
3. Provide automatic readings for accurate billing
4. Prohibit forced prepayment mode switches

Technical Infrastructure Shift

Crucially, the government will fund:

- Replacement of 2G/3G modules with 4G radios
- Integration with home broadband for meter backhaul
- New APIs for low-carbon device interoperability

This addresses the scandal of "zombie meters" that lose connectivity when carriers disable legacy networks—a problem exacerbated by the program's 10-year rollout timeline.

Environmental Gambit

Facing criticism that meters save households just £18 annually (per National Audit Office estimates), officials now position them as critical for decarbonization. A parallel "Clean Power 2030" consultation explores how meters could:

"Optimize electric vehicle charging, coordinate heat pump operation, and unlock dynamic energy tariffs,"
according to the policy framework document.

Smart Energy GB CEO Dan Brooke endorsed the strategy, noting meters enable "flexible tariffs that can help save money"—though critics question savings when 32% of devices malfunction.

The consultation closes October 3, 2025, with suppliers racing against network shutdown deadlines. For UK households, the promise remains: functional smart meters or £40 checks—a tangible price tag on infrastructure failure.

Source: The Register (https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/09/smart_meter_policy/)