The Institute of Directors has hit out at what it calls the government鈥檚 鈥渃omplex and costly鈥� smart meter rollout programme

Attacking the 拢10.9bn cost of the rollout, the Institute of Directors (IoD) called on the government to 鈥渦rgently review鈥� the scheme, adding that it looks 鈥渧ery unlikely鈥� to meet its target of installing smart meters in 26 million homes by 2020.

IoD senior energy adviser Dan Lewis said: 鈥淭he prime minister has shown willingness to review [鈥 projects where there are questions over value for money, as she did with the Hinkley nuclear plant.

鈥淣ow is the right time to review the smart meter programme, which is an overly complex scheme for which the benefits are far from clear.

鈥淚t looks very unlikely that smart meters will meet the target to be fully deployed by December 2020.鈥�

Smart GB, which runs the national advertising campaign for the smart meter rollout, defended the scheme and refuted IoD claims that it will add 拢400 to each consumer鈥檚 bill.

Chief executive Sacha Deshmukh said: 鈥淪mart meters help the most vulnerable members of society bring their energy bills under control.鈥�

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