British Gas CEO Calls for Mandatory Smart Meter Installations
The boss of British Gas is urging for mandatory smart meter installations in all households following reports that almost 4 million meters are not working. Chris O’Shea, the chief executive of Centrica, British Gas’ parent company, believes a street-by-street approach is necessary to cut costs and create a smart grid efficiently.
O’Shea also offered to assist other energy suppliers in installing smart meters. However, his proposal was met with resistance from Rachel Fletcher of Octopus Energy, who emphasized that consumer choice should not be compromised.
Smart meters play a crucial role in reducing energy consumption and promoting sustainability. While the UK government aims to have smart meters in every household by 2020, technical issues and delays have hindered the program’s progress. Customers with faulty smart meters have reported being overcharged on their energy bills, prompting calls for regulatory intervention from Ofgem.