In order to produce a statement of solar panel electricity units used in a premises as a percentage of total usage, a premises would require multiple meters: a meter to record the amount of electricity generated by on-site renewables; and at least one meter to record the amount of electricity exported from the premises to the grid and the amount of electricity imported from the grid to the premises.

Most traditional meters are not able to measure the amount of electricity being exported so it would be necessary to have at least three separate meters to produce the required statement.

In contrast, all SMETS compliant electricity meters are capable of recording any electricity that is exported to the grid from on-site renewable generation sources, such as solar panels, net of the electricity from on-site renewables which is used within the premises. By combining two SMETS compliant meters in one premises – one operating as a generation meter for the on-site renewables and one to measure the import and export of electricity to and from the grid – it would be possible to produce the required statement. In each case, the smart meters would also be capable of recording generation and consumption on a half-hourly basis and the data would be available remotely.

All meter points in new build homes must have a registered energy supplier. The builder can appoint a supplier of their choice but it is the supplier who has responsibility for the installation of meters in a property.

A number of energy suppliers are already installing smart gas and electricity meters in new build properties. The Government recently consulted on a proposal to activate the New and Replacement Obligation (NRO) in energy suppliers’ licences. The NRO would require suppliers to take all reasonable steps to install a compliant smart meter where a meter is fitted for the first time including in new build properties. We expect to make a decision to activate the NRO in due course.

When consumers with first generation smart (SMETS1) meters switch energy supplier, if the new supplier is not able to operate the meter in 'smart' mode, the meter will continue to record energy consumption accurately and can be used in 'traditional' mode.

The Data and Communications Company is developing a solution to move SMETS1 meters onto the national communications infrastructure to enable consumers to retain their smart services upon switching. This can be done remotely.

Second generation smart (SMETS2) meters will be fully compatible between energy providers, therefore allowing all consumers to retain smart services when they switch energy suppliers.

Smart metering equipment has the capability to store a minimum of' the past 15 months of half hourly consumption data on a rolling basis: once the meter’s data storage is full, the

oldest data will be overwritten with newer data. As the oldest data are overwritten, they will effectively be deleted and therefore not owned by anyone.

A recently published consultation on implementing the provisions of the energy efficiency directive has proposed the option that smart meters actually store a minimum of 24 months of data.