Most homes have two meters; one for gas and one for electricity. Both will eventually be replaced with smart meters.

Smart meters are being installed in homes across Great Britain as part of a Government scheme. There is no cost of installation to the bill payer. Smart meters send automatic, accurate meter readings either every half hour, day or month (the bill payer can choose which). You can also have an in-home display device that shows how much energy is being used in pounds and pence, helping you to keep on top of your bills.

What are the main benefits?

• You can see your energy usage in real-time, so you know how much is being used and how much you’re spending. You can consider adapting behaviour to reduce usage. 
• Meter readings are automatically sent to the supplier, meaning no more estimated bills, and time saved as you no longer need to do this.
• A meter reading will not need to be taken on check-out day if the bill payer has chosen to send readings every half hour/per day.

Does everyone qualify?

The Government is aiming to offer every household in Great Britain a smart meter by 2025. The energy supplier will be able to advise whether your rented property is in an eligible area.

Is it as simple to install in blocks of flats as it is in houses?

The installer will need access to the meter. If the property is a distance away from the main meter you should still be able to have a smart meter installed, however, you might not be able to have the in-home display device. The meter will still send accurate meter readings directly to the supplier so you will get accurate bills.

How long does installation take?

It takes a maximum of two hours, if you have the same supplier for both Gas & Electricity the full process would be two hours. You will only have around 10-15 minutes without supply but will need to be present to provide access.

Do Tenants need to ask their landlords permission for installation?

You should let your landlord or agent know if you wish to make any changes at the property, and smart meters are no exception. Before requesting a smart meter from your supplier please speak to your landlord or property manager (depending on who manages the property). If energy bills are included in your rent, the landlord can themselves request a smart meter installation. Someone would need to be at the property during the installation so either they, or we, would be in touch to discuss further.

Is there a choice of where the Smart Meter is located?

The smart meter will be fitted in the same location as the current meter by the energy supplier or a third party they instruct.

The in-home display device that shows the usage in £’s and pence is a portable device that can be moved around the home. It is battery operated and can plug into the mains. If it was plugged in consistently for 365 days it would cost no more than a £1 to run.

Installation and costs involved

Smart meters are installed by your energy supplier, there is no cost involved and the installation process will take around two hours.

Can a 1st generation meter be upgraded to a 2nd generation meter?

The existing energy supplier can clarify which generation the current meter is. If it’s still a 1st generation they can remotely upgrade the meter to 2nd generation. Accurate meter readings will be sent to the new supplier irrelevant of the generation version, however any in-home display device won’t be able to be used until it has been remotely upgraded to 2nd generation.


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