Nearly 4 million smart metres across UK homes were not working correctly, at the end of 2023, that's according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The devices are designed to send data to energy companies in real-time, but were not connected properly and gave inaccurate estimated readings as a result, the government department said.
Smart metres allow consumers to keep track of energy usage and make it easier to save on bills, though the use of estimated data can result in overpayment.
The 3.98 million meters recorded as not working properly was down from 4.31 million as of June last year, with industry members noting that the “vast majority” of the UK’s 35 million units acted as intended. June’s data had been revised upwards though.
"Customers should always contact their supplier if they are experiencing issues - there can be a range of potential fixes,” industry body Energy UK said.
“It is of course important that figures correctly represent the current situation and we continue to work with suppliers and other partners in the programme to further improve the customer experience for smart households.”
An OVE Energy spokesperson acknowledged that technical faults could affect the meters, but noted suppliers were obliged to replace these, even if issues were out of their control.
Octopus Energy commented that more emphasis should be placed on the successful rollout of the systems, instead of attempting to install as many as possible, meanwhile.
“Rather than putting pressure on companies just to install more, we should prioritise the people who want them, and make sure the ones that are installed are working properly,” they said.
This is as the government laid down targets for smart meters to be installed in at least 74.5% of homes by late 2025, alongside 69% of small businesses.