The government aims to have a smart meter installed in as many households and small businesses as possible across Great Britain by the end of 2025.
It estimates that smart meters will provide total bill savings of £5.6 billion for households by giving consumers the information they need to manage their energy costs effectively.
A smart meter can display real-time usage levels, providing a clearer understanding of your electricity and gas use. But as with many things rolled out at scale, the experience hasn’t been perfect for everyone.
Some individuals have experienced installation issues or found that their meter stopped working correctly over time. A few found themselves in prepayment mode due to involuntary remote switching by energy suppliers.
So, should you get a smart meter in 2025? Exploring the pros and cons, as well as whether it’s worth getting one, can help you make an informed decision.
Quick Takeaways on Should You Get A Smart Meter:
- A smart meter is the digital version of a traditional meter
- SMETS2 are the second-generation smart meters and are now standard across the UK
- Smart meters ensure accurate readings based on actual usage instead of estimates
- They enhance energy use awareness, make it easy to top up and give you access to better tariffs and deals
- Concerns of smart meters include losing connectivity, IHD issues, data privacy and security and involuntary switching to prepay
- Getting a smart meter is not mandatory, and you can say no without any penalty.
- Smart meters work with solar panels and don’t pose any health risks
What Is A Smart Meter?
At its core, it’s a digital version of your old meter. However, instead of recording a running total of the energy you use, it records the half-hourly price and consumption data and provides automatic meter readings to your energy supplier.
No need to take a photo of your meter or squint at numbers under a cupboard light. Instead of having separate meters for gas and electricity, the smart meter replaces both. You’ll also receive a small, easy-to-use handheld device called an IHD (in-home display).
It displays the cost in pounds and pence, as well as the amount of energy you’re using, updating every 30 minutes for gas and in near real-time for electricity. If you’ve ever wondered how much your tumble dryer costs to run or if that extra-long shower is worth it, this device can give you a clue.
Types of Smart Meters Available in the UK
There are two main types: SMETS1 and SMETS2. SMETS1 meters are the first generation of smart meters and typically operate in ‘traditional mode.’ Consumers who installed SMETS1 faced various issues, such as the meter becoming ‘dumb’ and not sending automatic readings after switching energy companies.
SMETS2 meters are the second generation and are more advanced and flexible, retaining their functionality even when you change providers. They enable remote updates, offer improved performance, and provide enhanced security.
SMETS2 smart meters are now the standard across the UK and are a key part of the government’s plan to modernise the energy grid. At the end of March 2025, 91% of all smart meters across Great Britain were SMETS2, while the remainder were SMETS1 operating in traditional mode.
How Does A Smart Meter Work?
Smart meters work using two key systems:
- The meter itself measures your electricity or gas usage.
- The communications system securely transmits your usage data to your supplier via the Wide Area Network (WAN) and communicates with your IHD via the Home Area Network (HAN).
It allows you to track energy use by the hour, day, or month, ensuring your bills are always based on actual usage, not estimates. Energy suppliers can also identify problems more quickly and remotely upgrade specific systems.
What Are the Benefits of Having A Smart Meter?
There are several practical reasons many households opt in. Here’s a look at what you stand to gain.
No More Manual Readings
You won’t need to crawl under the stairs or reach behind a cupboard with a torch to check your meter. Your supplier gets the readings automatically.
You’ll Stop Guessing Your Bill
Since the meter sends regular readings, your bills are based on actual usage. Not estimates. That means no more unexpected charges when the estimate turns out to be way off.
You’ll Probably Be More Aware of What’s Wasting Energy
The IHD helps you track the amount of energy you use throughout the day. You can see how turning off lights, reducing tumble dryer use, or shortening showers can help cut costs. It’s a straightforward way to learn about your habits and identify areas for improvement.
Topping Up Gets Easier for Prepay Users
If you’re on a pay-as-you-go meter, a smart version allows you to top up online, through an app, or in-store without needing a key or card. You can even track how much credit you have left before it runs out.
You Might Unlock Better Deals
Various time-of-use tariffs are only available if you have a smart meter. They can include off-peak rates, flexible pricing, and time-of-use incentives. If you use your energy predictably, or can do your laundry at odd hours, such as at night, these tariffs can help you save a few quid.
Smart Meter Drawbacks and Concerns
Connectivity Issues
If your meter loses its connection, it won’t send readings. Sometimes, it stops working as a “smart” meter altogether and reverts to a manual one. This tends to happen with SMETS1 versions. Some suppliers can fix it remotely. Others may need to come back out.
A 2024 report by Citizens Advice reveals that 20% of people with a smart meter must provide manual meter readings to their supplier regularly. A further 24% of people reported having to provide manual meter readings occasionally.
Installation Issues
Although the process is typically free and handled by your energy supplier, installations can sometimes encounter issues, including missed appointments, smart metering equipment not functioning correctly after an installation visit, or difficulties understanding how to use the equipment.
Although over 1 in 5 people (22%) proactively request a smart meter, most people have them installed because their supplier asked if they wanted one. Citizens Advice notes that one of the most common reasons people were unhappy with their smart meter installation is that they felt that they had little choice over the installation in the first place (26%).
People who felt they had little choice over the installation are also less likely to engage with their smart meter, including checking their IHD and accessing new products and services. This demonstrates the importance of consumer buy-in to delivering the benefits of smart meters.
IHD Issues
The IHD is an essential part of the smart experience, but it may not work as expected. Some consumers may not get one or may not know how to use one.
Data from Citizens Advice shows that over one in ten people (11%) reported not being offered an IHD despite this being a requirement. Another 18% said they weren’t shown how to use it during the installation, despite suppliers being required to do so.
The IHD may also not work as promised, with people reporting problems like the IHD no longer accurately displaying the cost of the energy they’re using, not showing any data, or difficulties sourcing a replacement IHD.
Some people also struggle with using IHDs, especially those who aren’t digitally confident, older people, and people with health conditions. Such groups can benefit from an accessible IHD (AIHD) to meet their needs. However, data shows that less than half (45%) of users who identified as having an impairment were not offered an AIHD by their supplier.
Data Security and Use
Although data from smart meters is encrypted and regulated, the idea of having usage sent out automatically every half hour doesn’t sit well with everyone.
Control over data usage remains a crucial trust factor, and many consumers consider the ability to opt out of sharing their data as a vital protection for increasing trust and confidence.
You can opt for less frequent readings or limit how you share your data, but not everyone trusts the system.
Involuntary Switching to Prepay
In some cases, suppliers have remotely flipped a customer’s smart meter to prepayment mode, especially when bills go unpaid. While this might help suppliers avoid debt, it’s caused serious issues for people who didn’t realise it had happened or couldn’t afford to top up.
Consumers can find themselves without power or heat because their smart meter has been switched to prepayment mode without their knowledge, and then run out of
credit. Such actions create understandable anxiety and are the reason given by 16% of people who reject a smart meter.
However, Ofgem introduced strict new rules on involuntary prepayment in late 2023 to reassure consumers that they’ll be treated fairly if they fall into debt after having a smart meter installed.
Reports show that energy suppliers that fell short of required standards when attempting to recover debt by installing involuntary prepayment meters will pay £ 18.6 million in compensation and debt write-off to at least 40,000 customers.
Is Getting A Smart Meter Mandatory?
Nope. You’re under no legal obligation to accept a smart meter, even if your energy company keeps asking. You can refuse, delay, or change your mind later.
Some tariffs may only be available to those who agree to receive one, so that’s something to consider. But the choice is still yours.
Can I Get A Smart Meter If I Live In A Rented Property?
The person paying the energy bills can choose whether to have the smart meter installed. If you rent and your name is on the energy account, you have the right to get a smart meter installed. You don’t need permission from your landlord, though it’s still polite to mention it.
If the bills are in the landlord’s name, it’s their call. However, Smart Energy GB, a not-for-profit established to lead the national consumer engagement campaign for smart meters, notes that it’s worth asking. The organisation’s research shows that 72% of landlords would agree to get a smart meter installed.
Do Smart Meters Work with Solar Panels?
Yes. Smart meters can help you earn money on the excess energy your solar panels produce.
Previously, you needed to have a separate ‘export meter’ to export unused energy back into the grid. It would specifically keep track of your exported energy so that you could be fairly compensated for it. With smart meters, you don’t need a separate meter, making them ideal for anyone who’s on a SEG tariff.
They can calculate energy exports and ensure you’re paid accurately and fairly for every kWh you export. It’s worth remembering that some SMETS-1 meters are not usable by all energy suppliers who offer SEG.
However, all SMETS-2 meters are universally usable, so it’s better to opt for a SMETS-2 meter if you want to earn money from your solar panels through SEG.
What About Those Tariffs That Use Smart Data?
Smart meters offer various tariff options, which can help you save, and some even allow you to earn money. Without a smart meter, you won’t have access to these deals.
Can You Remove a Smart Meter?
Not easily. Most suppliers won’t remove one once it’s installed. If you change your mind, they can sometimes disable the “smart” functions or put it in ‘dumb’ mode so it acts like a regular meter. It won’t automatically send readings to the energy supplier, so you’d have to take readings manually again and lose access to any special tariffs.
Do Smart Meters Pose A Health Risk?
Smart meters utilise radio waves to enable remote readings, and some individuals worry that they may pose a health risk. However, the levels are very low, far below those of everyday devices, such as phones or Wi-Fi equipment.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has conducted extensive research assessing exposures from smart meters. The results confirm that exposure to radio waves from smart meters is well below the guidelines set by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
UKHSA considers that there is no convincing evidence of harm from exposure within the internationally agreed-upon guideline levels. It concludes that exposures to the radio waves produced by smart meters do not pose a health risk.
Will You Pay to Get A Smart Meter?
The cost of installing smart meters is included in everyone’s bills. You won’t incur a separate charge, but regardless of whether you have one or not, you’re helping to pay for the rollout through your energy rates.
That’s how it works with most infrastructure—sort of like paying for roads through taxes, even if you don’t drive.
Is It Worth Getting A Smart Meter?
The honest answer is that it will depend on where you live, your energy usage and what you consider important.
A smart meter makes sense if you’re looking to avoid bill estimates, track your energy usage, and access modern tariffs. If you live somewhere with patchy coverage or don’t like the idea of a remote control, you’re not missing out by waiting.
For some households, seeing their energy use daily helps them cut costs. Others hardly check the IHD once the novelty wears off. Either way, the meter will still send readings behind the scenes.
If you’re curious but unsure, speak with your supplier and ask questions.
Final Word
Smart meters aren’t about being flashy, and there’s no pressure or deadline to get one. If you want one, you’ll probably find it handy. If not, you can say no without penalty.
Smart meters aim to enhance the energy system and make it run more efficiently for the grid and UK households. However, it’s becoming trickier to manage supply and demand with more people using home batteries and purchasing electric vehicles.
The real-time data from smart meters helps keep things balanced, resulting in more accurate prices, fewer blackouts, and better home energy management tools.
FAQs on Should I Get A Smart Meter
Is There a Downside to Getting a Smart Meter?
Older generation meters, like SMETS1, can temporarily lose smart functionality when switching suppliers, but this is not a concern with SMETS2. Some users may also experience stress from constantly seeing usage data or inadvertently causing friction by monitoring household energy habits too closely.
There are also concerns regarding data security and privacy; however, smart meter systems meet regulated standards, and suppliers must adhere to strict data frameworks.
Is it necessary To Get A Smart Meter?
If you want accurate billing instead of estimates, increased awareness of your energy use, easier prepay top-ups, and access to exclusive tariffs, you should consider getting a smart meter. However, it’s not mandatory. You don’t have to accept a smart meter if you don’t want to, and you can contact Citizens Advice if your supplier tells you must have one installed.
Is Smart Meter Installation Free?
Yes. Your supplier must install it at no charge. The cost is recovered over time through energy bills, not a separate fee.
Do Smart Meters Need Wi-Fi?
No. Smart meters send and receive information using a standalone network. It’s safe, secure and completely separate from your Wi-Fi and public broadband.
Can I Change My Smart Meter To a Normal Meter?
No. Once the smart meter is installed, you can’t switch back to. traditional meter. You can ask your supplier to disable the “smart” functions or put it in ‘dumb’ mode so it acts like a regular meter. However, you’d have to take readings manually again and lose access to any special tariffs.
Sources and References:
- GOV.UK – Energy Security Bill factsheet: Smart metering
- GOV.UK – Q1 2025 Smart Meters Statistics Report
- Citizens Advice – Get Smarter: Ensuring people benefit from smart meters
- Ofgem – Suppliers commit to a further £18.6million customer compensation and debt write off following Ofgem’s prepayment meter review
- Smart Energy GB – Smart meters and rented property: Can I get a smart meter if I rent?
- GOV.UK – Smart meters: radio waves and health