An IT project involved in rolling out the UK’s national smart meter scheme has been delayed again.
The Government has confirmed that the system, which will link smart meters to the energy suppliers, will now not be available until the end of September.
The system was due to be switched on on 17 August. It was first expected to be operational in 2015, before it was delayed until April 2016 and then delayed until this August.
The Government plans for most homes to have a smart meter by 2020, which will mean 53 million meters being fitted in over 30 million premises.
The smart meters include a gas meter and an electricity meter linked to a monitor that shows people their energy expenses in pounds and pence.
It will automatically send meter readings to energy suppliers.
In September 2013 the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) granted Smart DCC La licence to establish and manage the network to be used to connect smart meters to the business systems of energy suppliers, network operators and other authorised service users of the network.
Smart DCC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capita plc.
A spokesperson for DCC said that “the timetable for the roll-out of the new infrastructure will allow for testing of the system to ensure that it will deliver a long-lasting and effective system."
A Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy spokesperson said: “The roll-out of smart meters is the one of the most significant upgrades to Britain’s energy infrastructure making it fit for 21st century life.
“The new infrastructure is planned to go live at the end of September; it is currently being tested to deliver a long-lasting, world class system to bill payers. In the meantime energy suppliers continue to drive forward the programme, rolling out more than 3.6 million smart meters to homes and business across the country."
