Thirteen constituents from the Esk Valley recently joined their Member of Parliament for Scarborough and Whitby, Alison Hume, in Westminster for a summit addressing issues with smart meters.
The meeting, held in Portcullis House, brought together representatives from the data communication company, energy suppliers, Northern Power Grid, and Citizens Advice to discuss the problems of non-functioning smart meters experienced by residents.
The MP says the summit was convened following concerns raised by numerous constituents facing difficulties with smart meters that repeatedly fail to work. She highlighted a "clear issue, a clear north south divide" in the functionality of the devices.
The discrepancy arises from a 2013 decision to utilise different network technologies in the north and south of England. Smart meters in the south operate on the 3G network, while those in the north rely on a longwave radio signal at 860 megahertz.
Ms Hume has previously voiced concerns about the "inadequacy of the long-range radio network used by smart meters in the north of England". This network, managed by Arqiva and the DCC, has reportedly proven ineffective in hilly regions such as the Esk Valley. The MP has raised the distress and financial burden faced by her constituents due to repeated, unsuccessful smart meter installations with Ed Milliband.
Alison Hume says that taking the local residents to the Westminster meeting was a useful exercise.
Local Councillor David Chance has also expressed concerns about smart meters in the county, stating that the mobile phone network, which some smart meters rely on, is "not up to scratch" in his area. He himself "refuses to have a smart meter installed in his own home due to poor signal strength in his village," an issue he emphasises impacts not just the Esk Valley but his entire constituency.
Following the Westminster summit, Ms Hume shared that she received positive feedback from attendees. One constituent reportedly emailed, "Thank you for inviting me to Westminster. I felt I was heard and I was pleased to see that there's a way forward".
Ms Hume views the upcoming contract renewal as an opportunity to "level up" and secure a more reliable network for the north of England.
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