Smart Meters

 

Smart meters are the new generation of gas and electricity meters which will replace the traditional meters in our homes. Between now and 2020, every home in England, Scotland and Wales will be offered a smart meter by their energy supplier, at no extra cost.

Smart meters will enable you to see exactly how much energy you’re using, as you use it, and what it is costing in pounds and pence. This will help you to stay more in control of your energy use and could help you reduce your energy bills.

Smart meters take regular readings and share these wirelessly, through a secure network, with your energy supplier. You can choose to send this information daily, weekly or even half hourly. This means your bills will be accurate, not estimated, and you will no longer need to have manual meter readings.

Though it is a wireless system, there is no need for Wi-Fi in the home for it to work. And it won’t use your Wi-Fi if you do have it.

Along with your smart meter, you will receive an easy-to-understand in-home display, a handheld digital device that shows exactly how much energy you’re using and what it is costing, in near real time.

In the future, smart meters will make switching between suppliers, or between credit and prepay, quicker and easier. If you are a prepay customer, you will also be able to top up online or via mobile phone. Meaning no more keys or inconvenient visits to the shop (although that option will still be available).

Energy suppliers are installing smart meters for their customers at different times. When you are eligible to get a smart meter can depend on many different factors, such as the age of your existing meter and the type of housing you live in. Your supplier will be in touch to arrange an appointment when they are ready to install yours.

Smart Energy GB is the voice of the smart meter rollout. It’s their task to help everyone in Great Britain understand smart meters, the national rollout and how to use our new meters to get our gas and electricity under control.

For more information about smart meters and how they can help you visit smartenergyGB (links to: Smart meters | Join the energy revolution (smartenergygb.org))