Lockdown may have impacted smart meter installations during England’s second lockdown, according to data from ElectraLink.
The energy solutions provider recorded 230,000 smart meter fittings throughout November, a 7% decline compared to October, when installation rates hit a record high.
“Refreshed lockdown restrictions in November across Great Britain appear to have potentially impacted smart meter installations,” ElectraLink said in a statement.
Roughly 247,000 smart meter installations were registered by ElectraLink in October, up 7% on September and the most seen in any month of 2020.
September saw the first year-on-year rise in installations since the UK’s COVID-19 lockdown was enforced in March, in a pick-up welcomed in the energy sector which has struggled to keep up with targets since the transition to smart metering was rolled out.
Installations were halted in March due to the UK-wide lockdown and the rollout remained on hold for three months. The government has since extended the deadline for utility companies to ensure smart meters are installed in all homes and businesses to July 2021 as a result of the upheaval the pandemic has caused.
Around 1.82 million smart meters have been installed so far this year, according to ElectraLink, which warned that installations are likely to fall further in December due to the holiday period. Approximately 14.53 million installations have taken place since the rollout began in 2016.
