Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the finding in paragraph 21 of the Public Accounts Committee's report entitled Update on the rollout of smart meters, HC 1332, that estimates that seven million energy smart meters will need to have their communications hubs replaced when 2G and 3G mobile networks are switched off.

Mobile Network Operators have announced long-term plans for sunsetting 2G and 3G networks by the end of 2033. The Government is already working with industry to support a smooth transition for consumers in advance of this.

Energy suppliers are obliged to upgrade smart meter communications hubs for those customers that will require this, as part of ensuring continuity of connectivity.

The Data Communications Company, which is licensed to operate the national communications network for smart metering, has already procured the services to enable future 4G smart metering network infrastructure.