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

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will ensure that all newly built houses are fitted with smart energy meters during their construction.

A number of energy suppliers are already installing smart energy meters in new build properties, and more than a million smart meters were installed overall in every quarter in 2018.

Energy supply licence conditions enable the Government to set a date from which suppliers must take all reasonable steps to install a compliant smart meter, where a meter is installed for the first time (for example in new build properties) or where a meter is replaced – this is referred to as the New and Replacement Obligation (NRO).

We expect to make a decision to activate the NRO in due course.