26 MArch: government response to public accounts committee findings on smart meters
On 17 January 2012 the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) published its report on the Department’s preparations for the rollout of smart meters. The Government’s response to the PAC report was contained in a Treasury Minute laid before Parliament and published on 26 March titled: “Government responses on the Sixty Second to the Sixty Seventh Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts Session 2010-12” (pages 8-12 cover the smart metering report).
10 February: Smart Metering Data Communications consultation launched
On 10 February, the Government published a consultation on a draft Statutory Instrument that will enable the licensing of a new national provider of communications services to and from gas and electricity smart meters, to be referred to as the Data and Communications Company (“DCC”). The Statutory Instrument defines the licensable activity of the DCC and amends primary and secondary legislation and other licence conditions which are consequent upon the establishment of the DCC. The Government would like to hear the views of interested parties on the proposed consequential changes and on the scope of the licensable activity.