Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the number of domestic properties in Norwich that are unable to access smart energy metering due to poor quality mobile signal as of March 2023; and what plans he has to help ensure those residents have access to operational smart meters in the future.

The Government's aim is that as many households and small businesses as possible should benefit from smart metering.

The Government does not hold information on network coverage at a constituency level. However, the Data Communications Company (DCC), which operates the national communications infrastructure for smart metering, is obligated under its licence to provide coverage to at least 99.25% of premises across Great Britain and is also required by license conditions to seek to provide coverage above this level where practicable and cost proportionate.

Ofgem is responsible for regulating the DCC against its obligations.