Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any steps her Department is taking to ensure that the adoption of smart meters does not disadvantage domestic energy customers in rural areas that have poor mobile connectivity.
Minister for the Economy: Protecting consumers is central to the Smart Meters programme and has been a key consideration in the development of the Design Plan.
The rollout will be co-designed with consumer organisations, including those representing consumers in rural areas, to ensure delivery reflects the needs of all consumers.
A mix of communications technologies will be used as part of the smart metering system to ensure coverage, including in rural areas.
Connectivity considerations will also be taken into account as the detailed design for the programme is developed to help ensure that consumers in areas with poor mobile connectivity are not disadvantaged.
Oversight will be provided through the Consumer Focus Expert Group, established following publication of the Design Plan, with existing safeguards remaining in place and additional protections built into the rollout for households with limited ability to shift usage or engage digitally.
ENDS
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