When Susan Kerr was offered a free smart meter by her energy supplier, she was keen to accept. But would the gadget cause problems if she wanted to switch to a different power company in the future? Kerr, 71, from west London, had heard about the government’s drive to have a smart meter in every home by 2020. The device sends details of a household’s energy consumption directly to the supplier, and a monitor in the home shows customers exactly how much they are using as they boil a kettle, watch television and so on. They no longer need to send meter readings, and estimated readings become a thing of the past. However, suppliers use different technology, so it may not be possible to switch provider and keep the same smart-meter functions — you may have to send meter readings again or have a new smart meter installed.
Times 16th Oct 2016 read more »