Smart Meters

A Smart Meter takes automatic, accurate readings of your electricity and gas.
They remove the need for estimated readings, as the energy supplier can access your meter reading remotely. That means you will be billed for the correct amount, and no-one will have to visit your property to take a reading.

Currently, many people are told each year that they have under or over-paid, but a Smart Meter means that you only pay for the energy you actually use.
By the year 2020, the plan is that every household in Britain will have Smart Meters, one for gas and one for electricity.

It is estimated that Smart Meters will save energy suppliers more than £300m a year, by removing the need to take meter readings or deal with bill disputes.

Smart Meters often come with a monitor attached which can provide information about your gas and electricity consumption too, so that you can see exactly where you are using the most energy.

You then can use this information to help you reduce the amount you spend on gas and electricity and prevent energy wastage.

Is a Smart Meter the same as an energy monitor?

No. A Smart Meter measures your gas and electricity usage, while an energy monitor shows how much energy you are using at any particular time. As mentioned above, often Smart Meters come with an energy monitor as an addition, so the two might be combined.

Can I still take my own meter readings?

You can still take a manual reading from your Smart Meter if you want to, but the meter regularly communicates with the energy provider to provide accurate information about how much energy you are using, so there isn't really any need for you to take your own readings too.

As a general rule, your electricity meter readings are recorded every 30 minutes and your gas once every 24 hours.

Can I get a Smart Meter now?

Yes, some suppliers including British Gas and First Utility offer tariffs which come with a Smart Meter as part of the deal. However, not all energy providers currently supply Smart Meters, but suppliers should be in touch as the scheme is gradually rolled out across the UK.

You shouldn't have to pay to have a Smart Meter installed. The bill for the new meters will have to be footed by the energy suppliers, and there are concerns that this may result in steeper energy costs for consumers.

Most homes will be able to have Smart Meters installed without difficulty. However, if your home has a weak mobile signal which prevents the meter sending readings back to the supplier, this could cause problems.

There may also be difficulties if there is not enough room to mount the meter, as Smart Meters are often slightly larger than standard meters.

Compare costs

Whichever type of energy meter you have, you should always make sure you aren't paying more than you need to for your gas and electricity bills.

You can compare gas and electricity tariffs online through MoneySupermarket's energy channel to find the best deals. If you cannot switch from a prepayment meter, then you may still be able to find a better prepayment tariff, so again you should use the channel to compare prices and switch to the cheapest available deal.