Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will work with Ofgem to define the requirement on suppliers to take all reasonable endeavours to deliver smart meters to 100 per cent of their customers.

‘All reasonable steps’ is a standard regulatory phrase that is widely used in energy suppliers’ licences. It means what it says. It places the onus on suppliers to show that they have made genuine good faith efforts with all their customers, while allowing them important flexibility where they have taken all reasonable steps.

The Government and Ofgem want suppliers to focus on developing solutions where installations may be technically challenging, and building support for smart metering among their customers.