Having been able to attend many shows over the course of recess, engage in a whole range of conversations from internet connectivity through to road quality, it is back to Westminster where we are busy working on the Online Safety Bill among other pieces of legislation. As we return, and particularly as we start to approach autumn.
I would like to discuss a topic raised with me during recess, and that is smart meters. Different from traditional meters which run a tally of energy used, smart meters record half-hourly price and consumption data and provide meter readings automatically to energy suppliers. They tend to come with In-Home Displays installed in the home and which show cost and amount of energy being used. Smart meters have proven to be controversial. This seems to relate to problems experienced with the first-generation devices, which have become “dumb”, rendering them no better than traditional meters, with energy companies in some cases refusing to replace them. There have also been reports of some glitches which have multiplied many times the bill owed. A particular concern in Brecon and Radnorshire given the issues people face with connectivity is the fact that many of these devices do rely on either a Wi-Fi or mobile network connection, which, until schemes such as Project Gigabit and Superfast Cymru bring more reliable connections, could be a concern. Some of the most rural and isolated locations amid our mountains may well never have the kind of internet connection required for normal use of these devices. There are undoubtedly benefits associated with installing a smart meter, such as being able to better identify ‘vampire’ energy usage associated typically with devices left on standby, and energy companies are now offering tariffs which reward consumers for using energy at certain times of day. Yet, in order to enjoy these benefits, we must ensure that nobody is left behind and that local factors such as Brecon and Radnorshire’s are taken into account.
