Nearly 4 million UK households are at risk of overpaying their energy bills due to faulty smart meters, New government data revealed.

Figures released by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero Emissions (DESNZ) show worrying cases of smart meters not working properly.

Data shows that since June 2023, 4.31 million meters were not operating in smart mode, and by the end of last year, this number had dropped to 3.98 million.

The number was previously thought to be much lower, with 2.7 million reported failures as of June 2023, but this number was revised due to data errors from some vendors.

What is a smart meter?

Smart meters enable users and energy suppliers to track a household’s energy consumption, making it easier to understand when a household is using more energy and how to become more efficient, potentially highlighting where households could shift to cheaper electricity prices based on their usage. Condition.

Real-time data on consumers’ gas and electricity is sent to energy suppliers so they can understand how much energy they use and how much they pay.

A meter that is not properly connected can cause customers to overpay their bills because they are paying an estimated bill rather than a bill based on actual usage.

A spokesman for the British Energy Trade Association said Sky: A spokesperson said: “Customers should always contact their supplier if they are experiencing an issue – there may be a range of potential solutions, so it’s best to address it on a case-by-case basis.

“It is of course important that the figures correctly reflect the current situation and we will continue to work with suppliers and other partners in the scheme to further improve the smart home customer experience.”