MP airs smart meter fears

NORTHERN Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has voiced his fear that the Conservatives’ plans for rolling out smart electricity meters throughout the country allow for a “loophole” that could result in areas like Shetland missing out.

Smart meters allow customers to access real-time information that allows them to exert greater control over their energy use.

The government previously committed to supplying 100 per cent of households with a smart meter by 2020. In last week’s Queen’s speech, that commitment has bee changed to the wording contained in the Conservatives’ manifesto “which instead committed only to ‘offer’ every household a smart meter”.

The Liberal Democrat MP has previously led a House of Commons debate on the subject, referring to the poor housing stock, dark winters and ageing population that leave more than one in two Shetland households suffering from fuel poverty.

“I believe this would allow for a loophole in the contract which would lead the roll out to focus primarily on urban and easily accessible locations,” Carmichael said.

“This could well mean that the Northern Isles are left behind. Considering the disproportionately high level of fuel poverty in the constituency already, I think this would be a complete injustice.”