Martin Lewis has urgent £80 message to Brits with a smart meter
Fresh regulations compelling energy companies to compensate customers over defective smart meters have been praised by Martin Lewis.
Companies will be required to pay £40 to customers who have faulty smart meters that aren't repaired within 90 days - or £80 if both gas and electricity meters are broken. Smart meters are intended to transmit automatic readings to companies, ensuring customers are only billed for the actual amount of gas and electricity they consume.
These households will typically have digital displays in their homes, enabling people to monitor how much they are consuming. News come after Martin Lewis warns 'nothing to do with me' after complaints from money savers.
According to Uswitch, there were almost 38 million domestic and non-domestic meters reported in UK homes. In 2024, three million smart and advanced meters were installed, however, this was a decrease of 15% compared to its previous year.
Suppliers must estimate bills for those who don't possess smart meters. However, approximately one in five smart meters are believed to be defective. It's anticipated the threat of compensation will encourage energy firms to take swifter action, reports Birmingham Live.
Reacting to the announcement, Martin Lewis said: "Broken smart meters were high on the list of issues I raised with Ed Miliband when he first became Secretary of State. He promised me he'd investigate, so I was pleased when they told me this announcement was coming."
"Far too many smart meters, likely one in five, don't work as they should – a problem not just for all the homes with broken ones, but for the smart meter rollout. With so many dissatisfied customers, word-of-mouth is bad, so people tell their friends and neighbours not to get one."
He added: "We need to shift firms' focus from just installing smart meters to promptly fixing those that are broken – not just meters that go into dumb mode, but crucially all elements, including in-home displays that stop working. That's the aim of this plan, and while it's taking a softer approach than we proposed, it is an improvement and we'll be monitoring to see if it delivers."
Smart meters are free to install, and energy suppliers are responsible for providing and installing them at no extra cost. Its main purpose is to measure how much gas and electricity each household uses, with a mission to find ways to reduce its usage and therefore, the overall cost at the end of the month.
But despite its many advantages, some customers have raised concerns about its accuracy and functionality. As per Martin Lewis' advice, it's best to double-check with your chosen energy supplier, as households can receive up to £80.
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