MP169 Managing SEC Obligations and the Consumer's Right to refuse a Smart Meter

The consumer has a right to refuse a Smart Meter. Suppliers are unable to comply with consumer requests to install a smart meter in ‘dumb’ mode. The SEC does not allow for the Devices on the Smart Metering Inventory to be either installed and not commissioned (this is a transient state and not an enduring one) or to fit the meters without also fitting the DCC provided Communications Hub (as reference above in Gas and Electricity Supply Licence Condition 54.9). There is no concept, by design, of fitting a smart meter in ‘dumb’ mode.

The Proposed Solution is to introduce a ‘Restricted’ mode to be applicable to Devices which are SMETS2+ only and in credit mode. This will mean that there will be a Data Service Provider (DSP) System flag which indicates that a Smart Meter has restricted communications due to consumer choice.

There will also be a mechanism via the Self-Service Interface (SSI)/ Self-Service Management Interface (SSMI) whereby a Supplier can set or clear the ‘Restricted’ mode for a meter. This will limit the SRVs which can be delivered to and from ‘Restricted’ Devices.

This change will introduce an additional step to ‘all reasonable steps’ which can only be taken after the current all reasonable steps have been exhausted.

Large Suppliers
Small Suppliers
Electricity Network Operators
Gas Network Operators
Meter Installers
Flexibility Providers
Shared Resource Providers
DCC