The rollout of smart meters in the UK is facing significant challenges, particularly due to a growing north-south divide in uptake. Research indicates that installation rates are much higher in the northern regions, with nearly a quarter of homes in the northeast and 19% in the northwest already equipped with smart meters. In contrast, southern regions, particularly London, have lagged significantly, with only around 8% of homes there having installed these devices​

This divide threatens to derail the government's ambitious goal of installing smart meters in 50 million homes by the decade's end. While northern homeowners are increasingly recognizing the potential savings from smart meters, there has been less enthusiasm and awareness in the south, which further exacerbates the challenge​.

As a result, there is growing concern that the government may not meet its target without more focused efforts to educate and incentivize southern homeowners about the benefits of the technology​