Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of smart meter rollout on higher usage customers, including retired and elderly consumers; and what steps his Department has taken to help support customers with higher domestic energy costs.

Smart meters automatically send accurate readings to energy suppliers, removing the need for consumers, including those with poor mobility or older consumers, to take manual readings and helping ensure bills are based on actual rather than estimated usage.

In-home displays also provide near-real-time information on energy use and costs, helping consumers understand how to use less energy and save on their bills.

As recently announced, VAT will be removed from domestic electricity bills from October 1^st, taking an expected £45 off October’s yearly Ofgem price cap and adding to the £150 removed from bills last Budget, now factored into bills.