Smart meter rollout due to be complete next year despite 22,000 yet to be installed

Just over half of the 50,000 meters have been fitted since the project began in 2022

It's expected the rollout of smart meters on the Isle of Man will be completed by the end of next year.

That's despite just over half of the meters due to be installed having been fitted so far.

In 2022, a four-year project to install 50,000 smart electricity meters on the Isle of Man got underway.

The £18.2 million programme is designed to replace manual meter readings and estimated bills by sending Manx Utilities automatic meter readings that reflect the exact amount of energy used.

As of the 28 August this year, more than 27,500 smart meters have been installed, with around 22,000 still be put in place - around 44 percent of the total.

Responding to a Tynwald written question from Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse, MU chair John Wannenburgh confirmed the rollout is scheduled to be substantially complete by the end of next year.

He also revealed there have been 337 customers who've contacted the authority with concerns regarding the installation of smart meters.

Customers can have a non-communicating smart meter installed if they prefer not to have their readings sent automatically to MU, but the company says retaining an old style meter is no longer possible.

So far, two customers have opted out of the smart functionality and are instead paying a basic tariff, with charges for having the meter read four times a year.

Choosing the basic tariff means customers will have an uplifted daily standing charge currently set at 73.2p per day to ensure additional costs aren't borne by customers who allow remote meter reading.