The Department of Energy and Climate Change is leading the Smart Metering Implementation Programme. Under the Programme, energy suppliers must replace 53 million meters in homes and small businesses with smart electricity and gas meters by 2020. The Comptroller & Auditor General previously reported in 2011 on the Programme in Preparations for the roll-out of smart meters.

The NAO will prepare a briefing for the Committee of Public Accounts to complement an update report from the Department, which the Department provided to the Committee on 31 March 2014. The NAO’s briefing will focus on the remaining risks and challenges to the Programme.