The Institute of Directors has hit out at what it calls the government’s “complex and costly” smart meter rollout programme

Attacking the £10.9bn cost of the rollout, the Institute of Directors (IoD) called on the government to “urgently review” the scheme, adding that it looks “very unlikely” to meet its target of installing smart meters in 26 million homes by 2020.

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

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

“It looks very unlikely that smart meters will meet the target to be fully deployed by December 2020.”

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

Chief executive Sacha Deshmukh said: “Smart meters help the most vulnerable members of society bring their energy bills under control.”