What is a smart meter and how can I get one?

We’re big fans of smart meters and how they can help people take control of their bills. That’s why we’re committed to offering one to all of our customers - free of charge. Interested to know more?

Quick links:

• What is a smart meter?
• What's so good about smart meters?
• Can I get a smart meter?
• Ready to go? Book now!
• Can So Energy support my existing second-generation (SMETS2) smart meter?
• Can So Energy support my existing first-generation (SMETS1) smart meter?
• What does this mean for me and when will my SMETS1 become smart again?
• Is my smart meter first or second generation?
• Can I get a smart meter if I rent/am a landlord?
• I only have one fuel with So Energy, can I get a smart meter?
• Our Smart Metering Mission

What is a smart meter?

Smart meters send meter readings to your energy supplier, ensuring accurate bills and eliminating estimates. They include an in-home display (IHD) to help you monitor your usage in real-time. You'll also see the term SMETS, which stands for Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specification. We currently install SMETS2 meters, with SMETS1 being the previous version.

What's so good about smart meters?

Smart meters allow you to better understand your usage, and in turn adopt different usage habits to lower your bills.

1. No more meter readings - Smart meters send us regular, automatic readings, meaning you’ll never need to squeeze into a cupboard to try and get your meter readings.
2. No more estimated bills - Since smart meters send us regular readings, we always have accurate data for your energy usage, so we’ll never again need to base a bill on estimated usage. This helps you by ensuring you’re not overpaying, and it helps us to know how much energy to buy in advance for all So Energy customers.
3. Save energy and money - Smart meters come with an in-home display (IHD), a little monitor that shows your real-time energy usage. With this, you can keep an eye on the appliances that use the most energy, make changes and see instant improvements in your consumption

Can I get a smart meter?

We are now well established in our second-generation smart meter rollout, having installed more than a hundred thousand meters up and down the country.

When we do have availability in your area, we will be in touch through smart.install@so.energy with a prompt to book an appointment via your online account. You can also check availability for yourself by visiting your personalised smart meter booking portal.

Once you've made a booking, you can amend or cancel your appointment at any time yourself using the same portal. All you need to do is use the link provided in your booking confirmation or reminder emails and you'll be able to manage the booking fully.

Ready to go? Book now!

If you have any traditional meters at your address, you are likely eligible to get them exchanged. Click here to start booking.

If there’s no availability in your area, don’t worry—we’ll register your interest and contact you when new slots are available for smart meter installation. If the available slots don’t work for you, let us know your preferences, and we’ll inform you when a suitable slot opens up.

For information on how to prepare for your installation, check out our section here.  Or, to find out more about our metering partners and their smart meter installations, please check out this page here.

Can So Energy support my existing second-generation (SMETS2) smart meter?

We support all second-generation smart meters, also known as SMETS2 meters. If you have a SMETS2 and wish to join our supply, your meter should automatically connect to us and start providing us with reads you join us.

If you have a SMETS2 meter and you are already supplied by us, these should be 'woken up' and communicating with us. However, if you feel your smart meter has not yet woken up, please get in touch with us via help@so.energy.

Can So Energy support my existing first-generation (SMETS1) smart meter?

Following the SMETS1 migration a couple of years ago, we can communicate with most SMETS1 meters. 

What does this mean for me and when will my SMETS1 become smart again?

We've been working hard to start communicating with newly-enrolled smart meters. That being said, the time and date your SMETS1 will be enrolled and adopted into the new smart communications network depends on a few things, such as the meter manufacturer and the energy supplier who originally installed it. As it’s an industry-wide change that is largely out of our control, we are currently unable to provide exact timings for each meter. 

After we’ve taken care of the boring stuff in the background, if your meter is successfully enrolled and communicating with us, you will receive an email from us with the good news that your SMETS1 meter is now smart enabled. This means your meter will be able to do all the useful smart stuff. If both your gas and electricity are first-generation smart meters on supply with us, you will receive this email for each meter we successfully wake-up, so don’t be alarmed if you get it twice (it’s good news!).

If for any reason the Data Communications Company (DCC) are unable to wake up your meter, we will be in contact to offer you a brand new SMETS2 meter, free of charge. For the time being though, sit back and relax until you hear from us. Your first generation smart meters will behave like a ‘normal’ meter, meaning you will need to provide us with meter readings via your online account to ensure an accurate energy statement.

Is my smart meter first or second generation?

Chances are if your meter was installed before 2018, it’s most probably going to be first generation (SMETS1). To be more certain though, you can either check out our page here (complete with diagrams and model names), or look for a device ID (GUID) on the electricity meter. This will be printed on the front of the communications hub (attached to the top of the meter) and will be formatted like this: AA-BB-CC-DD-EE-FF-GG-HH-II. If you can see this, you have a second generation (SMETS2) meter.

Can I get a smart meter if I rent/am a landlord?

This depends on who pays the utility bills for the property. Whoever the account holder is (the person responsible for paying the utility bills) ultimately has the choice on whether a smart meter can be installed. However, if you are renting but also pay for the gas and electricity, it may still be worth informing your landlord prior to installation that you are intending to install smart meters at the property!

I only have one fuel with So Energy, can I get a smart meter?

If you're an electricity only or a gas only customer, then the great news is that you can get a smart meter! If you haven't heard from us already, please get in touch so that we can start you on your upgrade journey. 

Our Smart Metering Mission

In 2022, we installed 25,332 electricity and 20,295 gas smart meters (45,627 in total), falling just short of our respective targets of 26,427 and 27,617. You can see a breakdown of those installations below.

In 2023, we installed 17,770 electricity and 16,971 gas smart meters (34,741 in total) in qualifying premises across the UK. A qualifying premises relates to the type of meter that was in place before we installed ours. If the meter was traditional before we exchanged it, then this would be considered as a qualifying installation. 

In 2024, we installed 16,943 electricity and 15,670 gas smart meters (32,613 in total) in qualifying premises across the UK. You can see the breakdown of installations below.

In 2025, we are targeted to install and exchange 20,547 electricity and 27,905 gas smart meters (48,452 total). 

Haven't heard from us yet? Fear not, as you likely will do soon. Alternatively, why not your register your interest here and we'll get back to you as soon as we can to let you know if you are eligible.