What’s a Smart Meter and How Does It Work?

In a recent blog post, we shared some energy saving tips for spring with five ideas on how to lower your usage around the home. In it, we briefly mentioned why you should consider upgrading to a smart meter - and because it’s a question we’re often asked, we wanted to dedicate an entire blog to sharing a run-down on everything you need to know about the benefits of smart meter technology…

A re-cap of the basics: what actually is a smart meter?

Smart meters are an innovative new way to measure the energy you use.

Unlike traditional gas and electricity meters, smart meters connect to a secure national communication network (called the DCC) so that they can automatically and wirelessly send energy readings to your supplier.

This means you no longer need to manually submit meter readings, and no more estimated bills. Smart meters also help you become more aware of your real-time energy usage, making it easier to make informed decisions about your energy consumption habits.

So can a smart meter really help me use less energy?

In short, yes. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that home energy usage drops by 5%-15% in the first year of using a smart meter in conjunction with an in-home display (IHD).

The IHD is a small device that acts as your smart meter’s display. Using an IHD means it’s far easier to access the information recorded by your meter - you can keep the device somewhere readily available such as your kitchen counter, rather than having to root around under the stairs every time you want to take a meter reading.

As for how an IHD helps you use less energy? Essentially, the IHD means you can monitor your energy usage in real time - in both kilowatt hours (kWh) and in monetary value. This means you can see how much you’re spending and keep an eye on which of your appliances use the most energy.

Having access to this insight makes it easier than ever to make small changes to reduce your consumption.

(Our IHDs)

Can I get a smart meter?

All suppliers, including So Energy, are currently in the process of rolling out smart meters to their customers as part of a nationwide upgrade to the UK’s energy infrastructure. The Government’s target is for all homes and small businesses to have been offered an upgrade to a smart meter by the end of 2025 (although it’s not compulsory to accept if you don’t want one).

Unsurprisingly, this is a pretty big job - there are more than 26 million homes for energy suppliers to get to! - and at So Energy we're working hard to offer smart meters to all our customers in the very near future.

What about if I rent?

Ultimately, whoever is the account holder and is responsible for paying the utility bills has the choice on whether a smart meter is to be installed.

If you are renting and also pay for the gas and electricity, there’s no reason you can’t upgrade to a smart meter - but it’s worth informing your landlord prior to installation, nonetheless.

Okay, you’ve convinced me - what next?

We've made a great start on our second-generation smart meter rollout, having now installed thousands of meters up and down the country. Our metering partners are doing a fantastic job in helping us to deliver on this project, but if you haven’t heard from us already, fear not as you likely will soon.

When we do have availability in your area, we will be in touch via smart.install@so.energy with a prompt to book an appointment via your online account, so be sure to keep an eye out for that!

Still got questions?

Hopefully this blog has been a useful resource in understanding the benefits of smart meters - however we know that some of you may have a few more questions, especially when it comes to the technicalities of the installation process, so we’ve compiled a list of FAQs here.