SSE pays £700,000 after missing smart meter target

SSE met its target to install electricity meters, but fell short of its target for gas smart meters. It hit its target in February, less than two months after the deadline. 

Under the smart meter roll-out, large energy suppliers - with more than 250,000 customers - are required to take all reasonable steps to install smart meters in all homes and small businesses by the end of 2020.

As part of the target, suppliers set individual annual targets for smart meter installations and Ofgem monitors performance against these targets.

To avoid formal enforcement action for missing the target, SSE has agreed to pay £700,000 to Ofgem's voluntary consumer redress fund. The fund is administered by the Energy Saving Trust, and goes towards supporting customer in vulnerable situations, and the development of innovative energy products and services. 

Ofgem says it is closely monitoring all suppliers’ approaches to the roll-out of smart meters and will hold suppliers to account if they do not meet their obligations.

See our Smart Meters guide for more information.