The minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh, joined BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty to discuss Ofgem’s fresh proposals following overwhelming complaints about smart meters. The British energy regulator revealed that households will now be able to get compensation from suppliers for delays to smart meter installation.

The new rules will mean consumers will be eligible for £40 compensation if they have to wait more than six weeks for a smart meter installation, if they have problems with faulty meters within the supplier’s control, and those not operating in smart mode that are not fixed within 90 days. Speaking to Naga, Fahnbulleh described these issues as “basic things that are kind of bread and butter for me that frustrate people every day when it doesn’t happen.” This discussion prompted the broadcaster to ask whether the politician owned a smart meter and if it worked, to which the MP responded: “I do and it does and I love it.” However, an unconvinced Naga raised her brows and issued a frosty response, as she simply said: “Ok.”

Naga Munchetty skewered Miatta Fahnbulleh on BBC Breakfast (Image: BBC)

Naga questioned if the MP owned a working smart meter (Image: BBC)

Naga’s response sparked major reactions from viewers who took to social media with their thoughts, as one highlighted: “Naga’s disappointed face,” alongside a laughing emoji.

A viewer remarked: “That ‘OK’ was cold.” While a third labelled the question as a “Failed gotcha.”

However, another agreed with the MP and said: “So do I, it does work & I love it too…”

Meanwhile, one fumed: “What a muppet. Falsely passionate about a smart meter that is of zero benefit to the consumer. She must think we’re all as stupid as she clearly is.”

During the discussion, Naga questioned the “incentives” behind the energy company’s offering the £40 compensation, which comes as part of a new crackdown after the regulator helped repair or replace of more than 600,000 faulty meters since July last year.

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Consumers will be eligible for £40 compensation for faulty smart meters (Image: Getty)

The presenter asked Fahnbulleh: “They are incentives to install smart meters for energy companies, what’s the incentive to do this, because at this moment, according to your own figures, 3 ½ million smart meters aren’t working.

“That’s 1 in 10, and you’ve got these targets, these short-term targets that things will be fixed, what’s the incentive to the energy company because they’re not doing it now?”

The politician responded: “91% of smart meters that have been installed are working,” to which Naga interrupted: “That’s 1 in 10, that’s not good enough.”

Fahnbulleh stated: “I completely agree with you. One smart meter not working is one too many, and it really frustrates people, which is why we’re putting in place this package of measures.”

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