Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent extension to the SMETS1 installation deadline on the installation capacity of energy suppliers.

The leading energy suppliers have started rolling out SMETS2 meters to their customers and others are working with the Data Communications Company to complete testing of SMETS2 meters ahead of moving to full scale roll-out.

The Government is consulting on making a final adjustment to the deadline for installing SMETS1 meters to give those energy suppliers who need more time to ensure their customers get a good experience of SMETS2 meters from the outset and so consumers can continue to benefit from SMETS1 meter installations in the meantime.

We have amended the proposed deadline in response to evidence from energy suppliers and the DCC and have given notice to allow energy suppliers to manage the transition including in relation to installation capacity.