Octopus Energy says 'we have no choice' as smart meter warning issued

Nearly 3m smart devices are not in ‘smart mode’ according to figures

The founder of Octopus Energy has criticised smart meters as some homeowners struggle with faulty devices. The energy firm boss, Greg Jackson, said the spec is a “decade out of date”.

According to figures almost 3 million smart devices are not in ‘smart mode’, reports Birmingham Live. The Octopus Energy founder took to Twitter/x to respond to a complaint from an energy bill payer and customer, he said: “We’ve had a million such sessions looking at those darned things. They’re so bad.”

He said: “Smart meters can be really cheeky – they send about 200 different messages and all need to be in order to get the data.” He went on to warn his customers and consumer base that “the spec is a decade out of date but we have no choice.”

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A spokesperson for Octopus Energy said: “We’re a massive fan of smart meters – they’re super important for the energy transition and unlock the power of smart tariffs.” On its website, the energy firm champions the benefits of them.

“Smart meters can…. Automatically send us regular meter readings, so you can rest easy knowing you’ll only pay for the energy you use and help you track your energy usage in pounds and pence, meaning you can keep an eye on how much you’re spending every day, week or month.

“They can unlock a world of smart tariffs where you could get electricity for less! Why not check out Agile Octopus or Octopus Go? Shhhh….customers with smart meters can also participate in some pretty cool trial promotions…. where you can even get paid for your leccy!”

Octopus is rivalled by the likes of OVO, EDF, and British Gas and this week saw Mr Jackson sit down on The Rest Is Money podcast, opposite Steph McGovern and Robert Peston, for an interview.

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