Smart Meter Issues Persist in Northern UK

A BBC Panorama investigation has revealed a significant technological divide in smart meter performance between Northern England and Scotland, where older radio frequency technology is used, compared to the mobile cellular technology employed in the South. This reliance on radio waves leads to frequent operational issues, forcing users to manually submit readings or receive estimated bills. Energy UK acknowledged the regional disparity, with meter engineers confirming that radio signals often struggle to penetrate challenging terrains, resulting in more failures in the North. One notable case involves Dr. Hartesh Battu from Glasgow, who has faced repeated failures with six different smart meters due to poor signal reception. Despite a £13.5 billion investment in smart meters intended to save energy costs and reduce emissions, recent figures show that 3.5 million devices are malfunctioning. Critics have labeled the smart meter rollout a 'textbook example of project failure,' due to these ongoing issues and the lack of uniform technology across regions.