Overview

• From early 2026, suppliers must pay £40 when a fault in one meter isn’t fixed within 90 days and £80 for simultaneous failures of both gas and electricity meters.
• Ofgem’s rules also require energy companies to offer scheduled repair or installation appointments and to meet strict service deadlines.
• Reports indicate about one in five of the UK’s nearly 38 million smart meters are malfunctioning, leading to billing errors and manual readings.
• Martin Lewis and Citizens Advice welcomed the enforceable compensation as a boost to consumer confidence in the smart meter rollout.
• A 15% decline in new installations during 2024 and concerns over delayed payouts threaten to undermine uptake and trust in the system.