It's no surprise that smart meters are proving unpopular with the public

Yesterday, Ross Clark argued over on Coffee House that the government’s Clean Growth Strategy – that is, a promise to insulate a million of the leakiest homes with the aid of £3.6 billion raised through the Energy Company Obligation (aka, a levy on all energy customers’ bills) – was a dubious government target. The strategy, while well-meaning in theory, is never going to work, he argues.

Many would argue that another government strategy – that is, the push to install smart meters in our homes – is similarly dubious. Having said that, it’s all very well offering the new technology to people (though there have been reports of energy companies ‘bullying’ customers towards the new meters, which is a whole other matter). It’s another thing convincing people that they need a smart meter in their home. Oh, and like the new Clean Growth Strategy mentioned above, the bill for introducing ‘free’ smart meters is also being footed by the UK’s energy customers (you and me, that is), whether they like it or not.