Ministers challenged to do more over smart meters in supported accommodation

Local Lib Dem Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has challenged Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook to do more to make it possible for residents in supported accommodation, in particular for pensioners and people with disabilities.

Most shared accommodation has electrical supplies which come in to a single shared utility cupboard, which often do not have space for smart meters to be fitted, and are too far from most of the rooms for a smart meter signal to reach. 

Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “This is a particular issue when companies are offering discounts to people who are prepared to sign up to smart meters. Pensioners, for example, are often on fixed incomes, and get hit the hardest by increases in energy costs. 

“Through no fault of their own, they are being excluded from schemes to help them manage their electricity use better, and discount their costs.”

While changes in building control recommendations were introduced in 2021, people living in existing accommodation will continue to struggle with the issue, and the councillor has challenged the Minister to introduce a scheme to encourage more existing housing stock to change over. 

Councillor Al-Hamdani added: “These are often the most vulnerable people in our society, and they are being left out with no way for them to fix the problem. We can’t sit back and wait for this to resolve itself – many of these housing schemes will be in use for decades to come, and until they are refurbished to allow smart meters, vulnerable people will again be left out in the cold.”