Thames Water, the struggling utility firm, is coming under criticism for turning up at people's homes uninvited and trying to force them into having smart metres installed, according to media reports.
Already entangled in financial difficulties and facing sewage dumping lawsuits, the water supplier has now been accused of unexpectedly presenting customers with demands to install smart meters as part of an ambitious rollout plan across London and the South East.
A resident from Surrey told the Telegraph their experience of Thames Water involved a worker arriving unannounced, requesting the installation of a smart meter.
The resident said they later found out that this was legal. Under the government's initiative to reduce household water usage, Thames Water holds the authority to install smart meters without advanced notification, even despite mounting concerns that these devices can lead to increased bills.
Emphasising that although Thames Water can enforce smart meter installations under its compulsory metering program, the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) said “the company should be supporting customers through the transition and communicating with them well in advance”.