Latest news with #smartmeters
The Guardian
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Why does British Gas keep playing dumb over my faulty smart meter?
I'm one of millions whose smart meters have gone 'dumb' and stopped relaying readings to the supplier. British Gas cancelled the first appointment to fix it and failed to show for the second. They've since fallen silent. It's now been five months and I am concerned that, at some point, I will be getting an estimated bill that I will be unable to challenge. WTW, Sunderland It is thought that 4m smart meters are malfunctioning, although the consumer campaigner Martin Lewis reckons twice as many households are affected and at risk of inaccurate bills. British Gas managed to rustle up an appointment within two weeks of my intervention. To show its contrition, it will not bill you for the six months when the meter was not functioning. Since then the regulator for Great Britain, Ofgem, has announced new rules governing the installation and repair of smart meters. Resolutions should be agreed within five working days of a problem being reported and compensation is due if repairs are not completed within 90 days. We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Science
- BBC News
University of Surrey report urges rethink over future water use
Customers and the water industry must work together to reduce water use, an academic study has from the University of Surrey's Institute for Sustainability have been working with more than 100 professionals, including some from nine UK water university's report said companies should do more to understand how their customers use water, before helping them change their habits to help conserve also said installing more smart meters and fixing leaks would not be enough, with England projected to face a daily shortfall of five billion litres by 2055. How can I reduce my water usage?England needs more hosepipe bans and smart water meters - watchdog Prof Benjamin Gardner, lead author of the report and professor of psychology at the University of Surrey, said: "Most people don't know how much water they use. "The sector has focused on smart meters, which will raise awareness of water use – but smart meters alone won't cut it."The real challenge is in helping people to better recognise and understand how they use water and supporting them to continue doing their everyday activities, but in a more water-wise way. "To do that, the sector needs to make better use of behavioural science." 'The human factor' It suggests focussing on issues such as fixing leaks in their homes, taking shorter showers and not flushing toilets so often, and says the water industry should focus on technology to work alongside these Russell from Waterwise, a non-profit organisation which promotes water efficiency that took part in the study, said: "Research into behaviour helps us design smarter policies, technologies and communications that support people to use water more wisely."We can't afford to ignore the human factor. Water efficiency isn't just about infrastructure - it's about people, choices, habits, and values."
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: Over 29,000 electricity theft cases detected in 2024 — EMRC
AMMAN — Authorities uncovered 29,636 cases of electricity theft across the Kingdom in 2024, according to the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission's (EMRC) annual report. The violations were identified during 174,481 joint inspections carried out by the EMRC, electricity distribution companies, and the Public Security Directorate, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The report also highlighted a major surge in smart meter installations, with 918,449 units deployed in 2024, a 161 per cent increase compared with 352,264 units in 2023. By the end of the year, about 1.68 million smart meters had been installed, covering 69.3 per cent of Jordan's 2.42 million electricity subscribers. Complete coverage was achieved in Tafileh, Salt, Madaba, and Ajloun. Renewable energy systems continued to grow under national sustainability efforts. The number of systems connected to the grid under the net metering scheme rose to 81,146, with a total capacity of 853 megawatts (MW). Another 656 systems operating under the wheeling scheme added 315 MW. EMRC also issued three new licenses for renewable electricity generation, with a combined capacity of 8.69 MW. Supporting the Kingdom's transition to green mobility, the number of public electric vehicle charging stations reached 110, with 65 new licenses issued in 2024. In terms of energy mix, conventional sources accounted for 58 per cent of electricity generation in 2024, followed by renewables at 27 per cent, oil shale at 14 per cent, and imported electricity from Egypt at 1 per cent. Despite growth in the renewable energy sector, the number of individuals licensed for installation and maintenance fell to 132, down from 238 in 2023. The report also detailed national consumption of oil derivatives, which totalled 3.645 billion litres, including 1.588 billion litres of 90-octane gasoline, 14 million litres of 95-octane, 1.805 billion litres of diesel, and 103 million litres of kerosene. Jordan currently operates 708 fuel stations, with 19 new licenses issued and 12 renewed in 2024. The Kingdom inaugurated its first compressed natural gas station in Al Risheh to support industrial energy use and efficiency. EMRC also launched a campaign to monitor fuel quality, with a focus on preventing the illegal blending of kerosene with diesel. A total of 862 inspections were conducted at fuel and gas facilities. The commission also issued 1,927 mineral export licenses, 3,000 import licenses, four mining rights, 178 quarry licenses, eight exploration permits, and 40 explosives expert licenses. Radiation and nuclear safety efforts remained robust. The commission issued 2,098 licenses and permits related to radiation, while 289 radiation devices and 621 radioactive materials were imported. Nine devices were exported, and 153 materials were re-exported. Radiation exposure levels for workers remained within legal limits, according to 682 monitoring reports and 6,796 assessments. The Kingdom also operated 109 fixed radiation monitoring devices at its border crossings, conducting more than 1.86 million radiation scans throughout the year.
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar: Kahramaa completes smart electricity meter installation
Doha: Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has completed the installation of smart electricity meters across all regions of the country, marking a significant milestone in the national drive towards digital transformation in utility services. Senior Smart Meter Engineer in the Customer Services Department at Kahramaa Eng. Maryam Abdullah Muftah has said that 100% of electricity meters have now been replaced with smart meters, while 50% of water meter installations under the smart metering project have also been completed. Speaking to Qatar TV recently, she said: 'This is a major transformational project that aligns with Qatar National Vision,' Muftah stated. 'The smart metering system has ushered in a new era in how we provide electricity and water services in the country.' She said that Kahramaa launched the smart meter initiative in 2021, beginning with electricity meters. 'With full nationwide deployment now achieved, the focus has shifted to completing the installation of smart water meters, with plans to achieve full coverage in the near future,' said Muftah. She said that the benefits of the smart meter rollout are already evident in Kahramaa's service model. Muftah highlighted that all services related to metering—such as initiating or transferring accounts—can now be processed completely online, without the need for customers to visit service centres. She said that everything has become digital and easier, not only for customers but also for the service teams at Kahramaa. 'Customers can now track their electricity and water consumption in real time. They are also able to access and pay their bills through the Kahramaa website or mobile application. Additionally, they can request billing statements and monitor their usage patterns conveniently from their devices,' said Muftah. Beyond convenience, smart meters play a crucial role in ensuring fairness and combating violations. According to Muftah, the meters have been instrumental in detecting violations of electricity and water regulations. 'Fortunately, we've observed a high level of compliance recently,' said Muftah, noting that the monitoring systems at Kahramaa's control centres have proven effective in identifying irregularities. The smart meter project is part of Kahramaa's broader digital transformation strategy, aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and sustainability in line with Qatar's national objectives. The Smart Meters Project is a strategic mega initiative that includes over 12 sub-projects aimed at replacing all conventional meters with advanced digital meters for every consumer in Qatar. The ambitious plan targets full deployment of smart electricity meters by the end of 2025 and smart water meters by the end of 2027. These state-of-the-art smart meters are equipped with a wide range of features that enhance both user experience and operational efficiency. They allow real-time tracking of consumption, prepaid payment options, early fault detection at no extra cost, and faster property transfer and billing procedures. A dedicated mobile application informs customers of their consumption patterns, promoting better energy and water use management. At the core of the initiative lies a robust smart platform that forms the digital backbone for managing electricity and water data. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Smart meters are a symbol of energy companies' contempt for customers
SIR – Christopher Howse ('The creeping tyranny of smart meters is a national disgrace', Comment, July 11) is not alone in having been let down by EDF. I too fell for its threats, although in my case the meter was at least fitted at the arranged time. Unfortunately, here in rural Wales, the signal is not reliable. I told EDF that my device was not working, to which it merely replied that this was a known fault – leaving me no better off than I was before I had it. I now have to take readings myself and submit them online each month. Kevin Cottrell Grosmont, Monmouthshire SIR – I can sympathise with Christopher Howse. I live in a first-floor flat with the electricity meters on the ground floor, and I too was browbeaten by EDF into having a smart meter installed. When the job was done, I asked for the meter display so that I could keep an eye on my use. I was told it would be sent to me. Several weeks passed, so I called EDF's customer service line and asked where my display was. I was told that, as my meter is on the ground floor and my flat is on the first floor, it would not work. Ian Carter Lytham St Annes, Lancashire SIR – I succumbed to EDF's badgering and agreed to have smart meters installed in the three blocks of flats that I manage. A date was set – but nobody came. No explanation, no apology. Joseph B Fox Redhill, Surrey SIR – In your article (''Not clear if heat pumps will save people money', government adviser admits', July 10), a spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero says: 'The British people are showing record demand for heat pumps, which enable families to save around £100 a year by using a smart tariff.' The same article suggests that a heat pump can cost £13,000 to install. My maths may be rusty, but this equates to a pay-back time of 130 years. If the heat pump is anything like my fridge, though, it will only last 10 years before it needs replacing. Dr Andrew Slater Sedlescombe, East Sussex SIR – Heat pumps are at their most efficient in hot weather and their least efficient in cold weather. When are our homes more likely to require heating? Frank Smith Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire
