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NETWORK / 8 / SEPTEMBER 2017 C oncerns have once again been raised over the safety and effi- cacy of the roll-out of gas smart meters, while experts have also questioned whether the 2020 timescale for the full delivery of smart meters to all households across the UK is achievable. Mike Foster, chief executive of the Energy and Utilities Alliance, said he had heard anecdotal evidence from gas network com- panies that gas smart meters were not being fitted correctly by installers. "If meters are not fitted correctly, subsequent safety SMART METERS Worries over gas smart meter roll-out Concerns are raised about the safety and efficacy of the roll-out for gas smart meters. concerns might mean households going without gas for heating, hot water and cook- ing if the smart meter isn't working properly and has to be replaced," he said. Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for South- ampton Test, and an energy industry observer, said such worries compounded fears that gas smart meters were sometimes being fitted by companies without the correct expertise to do so. He said he had recently visited Centrica's training facility for smart meter installers. "That is a good programme, as far as I can see, and the same is true for three or four of the Big Six Smart meter acceptance 49% of people would like to get a smart meter in the next six months 80% of people with smart meters have taken at least one step to reduce energy use 82% of people with smart meters have a better idea of their energy costs 74% of people with an IHD check it regularly 70% of people with smart meters feel more in control of their energy use Source: Smart Energy GB