Appendix 1: Letter from Baroness Verma
I am very grateful to the Energy and Climate Change
Committee (ECCC) for their report on the Smart meter roll-out.
Following the report's publication we are able to
provide further information on:
· the
Data and Communications Company's (DCC) alternative delivery plan
for build and test of the communications infrastructure that will
support the roll-out of smart meters from 2016 onwards, following
Secretary of State approval on 5 March;
· the
Early Learning Project, an extensive research programme undertaken
during the early Foundation period of the programme into how best
to deliver consumer benefits through effective engagement
With the technical, regulatory and commercial framework
largely in place, alongside a stable and robust DCC delivery plan
from which industry can plan to work and make investment against,
the programme is making good progress and moving beyond its design
stage to a new phase of delivery. In the meantime consumers are
already benefiting from the early roll out of smart meters with
over 1 million meters operating under the programme.
The interests of consumers are at the heart of the
smart metering programme. DECC will continue to work with energy
suppliers, Smart Energy GB and consumer groups in the build-up
to the DCC being live to ensure consumers increasingly understand
and use smart meters to the full.
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