How to Get a Smart Meter in the UK:

Your energy supplier has probably emailed you about this three or four times already. Maybe a text too. "Book your free smart meter upgrade" — with a link that takes you to a generic booking form and not much else.

Here's what those reminder emails don't tell you: getting a smart meter in the UK is free and usually takes under two hours from start to finish, but the type of meter you end up with — and what you do with it afterwards — determines whether it actually saves you money or just sits there quietly doing nothing useful. This guide covers the part suppliers gloss over: the difference between SMETS1 and SMETS2 meters, exactly what happens when the engineer arrives, the tariffs that can knock £200 or more off your annual bill, and what your rights are if your supplier keeps pushing your booking back.

How to Request a Smart Meter — Step by Step

Every UK household — and most small businesses — is entitled to a free smart meter. The process is simple, but a few details trip people up, so here's exactly how it works.

SMETS1 vs SMETS2: Which Are You Getting?

This is the part almost nobody explains properly, and it's the single most important thing to get right when you book your installation.

There are two generations of smart meter in the UK. SMETS1 meters were the first wave, installed mostly before 2019. They work brilliantly with whichever supplier installed them — but here's the catch: if you switch supplier, a lot of SMETS1 meters lose their "smart" functionality and quietly revert to behaving like an old-fashioned meter, meaning you're back to submitting manual readings. The meter still works, it just stops talking to anyone automatically.

SMETS2 meters fixed this. They connect to a shared national network — run by an organisation called the DCC (more on them shortly) — rather than being tied to one supplier's system. Switch supplier as many times as you like, and a SMETS2 meter keeps working exactly as it should throughout.

Feature	SMETS1 (older)	SMETS2 (current)
Typically installed	Before 2019	2019 onwards
Works with original supplier	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Keeps working after switching supplier	✗ Often not, unless upgraded	✓ Yes, always
Supports time-of-use tariffs	✗ Usually not	✓ Yes
Supports solar export readings (SEG)	✗ Limited or unsupported	✓ Yes

The good news for existing SMETS1 owners

Since 2021, the DCC has been working through a programme to remotely enrol SMETS1 meters onto the same national network SMETS2 meters use — fixing the switching problem without anyone needing a new meter installed. Around 9 million meters have been migrated this way so far. It's not finished, though, so if you've got an older meter that went "dumb" after a switch, it's worth checking whether yours has been enrolled yet.

How to check which one you have

Three easy ways: look at the meter itself, where the model is often printed on the display or casing; check your supplier's app, which usually states the meter type under your account details; or just call your supplier and ask directly — it's a one-minute question for their support team.

What to Expect on Installation Day

British Gas's own page on this says installation "takes about 2 hours" and your power will be off "for a short while." That's roughly the extent of what any supplier tells you in advance. Here's the fuller picture.

Before the engineer arrives

• Make sure both your gas and electricity meters are clearly accessible — not blocked by furniture, bins, or anything stored in front of a meter cupboard
• Have your account number to hand
• Jot down your current meter readings as a backup, just in case
• Someone over 18 needs to be in for the entire appointment, not just the start

How long the power is actually off

This is the bit people worry about most, and it's less dramatic than it sounds. Your electricity is typically off for 20 to 45 minutes, not the full two hours — the rest of that time covers the engineer setting up, testing the signal connection, and pairing your in-home display. Your fridge and freezer are completely fine for that window; there's no need to empty anything or panic about food spoiling.

What the engineer actually does

They'll remove your old meter(s), fit the new SMETS2 units, test that the meter can successfully connect to the DCC network (this is the step that occasionally fails — more below), install your in-home display, and walk you through how to use it before they leave.

If the installation can't be completed

It doesn't happen often, but it does happen — and it's almost always one of three reasons:

• No mobile signal at the meter location — common in basements, thick-walled older properties, or rural areas. The fix is usually a separate "communications hub" device that can be positioned somewhere with better signal
• An incompatible consumer unit (fuse box) — older or non-standard electrical setups sometimes need an electrician to update wiring before a smart meter can be fitted
• Asbestos near the meter location — if this is flagged, you'll need a specialist assessment before any work can continue, purely as a safety precaution

If any of these apply, the engineer will explain what happens next and your supplier will follow up to arrange the fix.

Before the engineer leaves, check:

• The meter is reading correctly
• Your in-home display is connected and showing live, updating data — not a blank or frozen screen
• Which generation meter was actually installed (ask directly — confirm it's SMETS2)
• You've been given or shown how to access a completion confirmation

Using Your In-Home Display (and Fixing It When It Breaks)

The in-home display, or IHD, is the small handheld unit you're given after installation — and it's genuinely the part of this whole process that determines whether a smart meter actually changes your behaviour or just becomes another gadget in a drawer.

What it actually shows you

Current electricity use in real time, both in pounds and pence and in kWh, near-real-time gas use, and running totals by day, week, and month. Most displays also let you set a daily spending budget — which is the single most underused feature on the device. A simple £5-a-day alert changes how people use energy far more effectively than just glancing at a number occasionally.

The most common problem: it loses connection

Roughly one in five households runs into this within the first few months — the display either freezes, shows old data, or goes blank entirely. Almost always, the cause is simple: the display has ended up too far from the communications hub (usually built into or near your meter), and the connection range is typically only 10–15 metres through walls. If your IHD lives on a kitchen worktop on the opposite side of the house from your meter cupboard, that's probably your answer.

How to fix it

First, try moving the display closer to the meter or your router for a day and see if it reconnects on its own — it often does. If that doesn't work, a full reset (check your supplier's app or website for the exact button sequence for your model) usually resolves it. If you're still seeing no data after about two weeks, that's the point to call your supplier and ask for a replacement display — it's covered free of charge.

The display isn't your only option

Every major supplier now offers in-app energy monitoring that's often more detailed than the physical IHD — historical trends, comparisons to similar households, and alerts pushed straight to your phone. Worth downloading alongside keeping the IHD rather than instead of it.

Your Rights If Your Supplier Won't Install One

Ofgem confirms you have the right to request a smart meter. What it doesn't spell out clearly is what to actually do when that request goes nowhere.

What you're legally entitled to

Any supplier with more than 250,000 customers is legally required to offer smart meters to all domestic customers — they can't simply refuse you without a genuine technical reason behind it.

Common reasons for delay, and what they actually mean

• "We're on a long waiting list" — your supplier still has to give you an actual installation date, not an indefinite "we'll be in touch"
• "Your property isn't suitable" — usually means a signal issue. You're entitled to request a specialist assessment, often involving a communications hub upgrade
• No response at all — chase in writing (email creates a paper trail), and don't be afraid to ask explicitly for a date

If you're renting

You do not need your landlord's permission to get a smart meter installed, as long as you're the one paying the energy bills. Only the meter is being swapped — nothing structural about the property changes. This is one of the most common misconceptions we hear, and it stops a lot of renters from even asking.

Switching supplier to jump the queue

If your current supplier's waiting list stretches on for months, switching is a completely legitimate workaround. It's free, and your new supplier takes on the obligation to get you booked in — often faster, particularly with suppliers like Octopus and EDF who've invested heavily in their installation capacity.

If you've genuinely been let down

Complain to your supplier directly first, in writing. If it's still unresolved after 8 weeks, you can escalate to the Energy Ombudsman, who can investigate and require your supplier to put things right.

Smart Meter Tariffs That Could Save You £200+ a Year

Here's the part that almost never gets mentioned alongside "how to get a smart meter," and it's arguably the best reason to actually go through the process: a SMETS2 meter unlocks access to tariffs that simply aren't available with an old-style meter.

What time-of-use tariffs actually are

Instead of paying the same rate for electricity all day, your unit price changes depending on when you use it — usually cheaper overnight and at weekends, more expensive during the early evening peak (roughly 4pm to 8pm, when the whole country's kettles, ovens, and TVs come on at once). Your smart meter records usage in half-hour blocks, which is what makes this kind of billing possible in the first place. It's also exactly why a SMETS1 meter often can't support these tariffs — it usually wasn't built to record at that level of detail.

What this actually saves you

Households who make a habit of running the dishwasher, washing machine, or tumble dryer outside peak hours typically save £100 to £300 a year, depending on the tariff and how consistently they shift their usage. If you've got an electric vehicle, the savings jump further — charging overnight on a dedicated EV tariff instead of a standard rate commonly saves £400 to £600 a year on charging alone.

Smart Meters and Solar Panels: What You Need for SEG Payments

If you've got solar panels — or you're planning to install them — there's a detail about smart meters that genuinely matters and rarely gets explained anywhere near clearly enough.

Why solar owners need a specific setup

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) — the scheme that pays you for electricity your panels send back to the grid — requires your meter to record half-hourly export readings, not just how much you're importing. Not every smart meter is automatically configured to do this the moment it's installed.

What to actually ask for

When you book your installation, say explicitly that you have or are planning solar panels and need export readings configured. Before the engineer leaves, check your in-home display or supplier app is showing an export figure as well as import — if it's only showing what you're using, the export side hasn't been set up correctly.

Why SMETS2 isn't optional here

SMETS1 meters frequently can't support the export configuration that the best Smart Export Guarantee suppliers require. If you've got solar and an older SMETS1 meter, this is one of the clearest reasons to request a free upgrade — the gap between SEG suppliers can be enormous, from as little as 3p/kWh up to 25p/kWh on the better tariffs, and you simply can't access the good ones without the right meter.

Smart Meters for Businesses, Schools & Hospitals

Almost everything written about smart meters assumes you're a homeowner. If you're managing energy for a shop, a school, or a hospital wing, the process and the benefits look a little different.

The threshold that matters

The standard smart meter rollout covers supplies up to 100kW — which comfortably includes most shops, market stalls, small schools, and GP surgeries. Larger sites above that threshold typically use a different kind of meter (AMR) and go through your supplier's commercial energy team rather than the standard residential process.

Do You Have to Get One? Myths vs Facts

A lot of hesitation around smart meters comes from things people have heard secondhand rather than checked. Here's a straight myth-versus-fact rundown.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a smart meter installed?+

The appointment itself takes around 2 hours including testing and setup, though your power is only actually off for 20–45 minutes within that window. Booking the appointment can take 2 to 12 weeks depending on your supplier's current waiting list.

Can I get a smart meter if I rent my home?+

Yes. If you pay the energy bills, you don't need landlord permission. Only the meter itself is replaced — nothing about the building's structure or electrics changes — so this is entirely within a tenant's right to manage.

What happens to my smart meter if I switch energy supplier?+

A SMETS2 meter keeps full functionality, transmitting readings automatically as normal. An older SMETS1 meter that hasn't been enrolled onto the national DCC network may temporarily lose smart functionality and revert to manual readings until your new supplier arranges an upgrade.

Is SMETS1 or SMETS2 better?+

SMETS2 is what you should request for any new installation. It connects to the shared national network and keeps working properly no matter how many times you switch supplier. SMETS1 was the first generation and can lose smart features after a switch, though many have since been remotely upgraded.

Can I refuse a smart meter installation in the UK?+

Yes — getting one is optional. Your supplier can offer and encourage, but cannot force installation. You're free to decline at any point, including on the day of a booked appointment.

Do smart meters work with solar panels and the Smart Export Guarantee?+

Yes, but you need to specifically request half-hourly export readings be configured, not just import. Most SMETS2 meters support this, but it's worth confirming with your installer before they leave — this configuration is required for most Smart Export Guarantee tariffs.

How do I know if my smart meter is working correctly?+

Your in-home display should show live, updating data rather than a frozen or blank screen. You can also check your supplier's online account — if readings are submitting automatically without you typing them in manually, your meter is connected and working correctly.

Can businesses and commercial properties get smart meters?+

Yes. Most shops, small offices, schools, and GP surgeries fall under the standard rollout for supplies up to 100kW. Larger commercial sites, like big hospitals or shopping centres, typically go through their supplier's dedicated commercial energy team rather than the standard booking line.