Is It Compulsory To Have A Smart Meter?

Is it compulsory to have a smart meter?

Smart meters are a great way to control your bills and understand more about your usage—plus they’re free! But many people wonder if installing a smart meter in their home is compulsory. In this blog, we’ll explain whether or not getting a smart meter is compulsory and what its benefits are. If you've already made up your mind, you can get your free smart here.

Do you have to have a smart meter

The simple answer is no; installing a smart meter is not compulsory. But there is a little more to it than that. The UK Government aims to install smart meters in 80% of homes across the UK, and so, despite not being compulsory, there are a few situations where you won’t have the choice.

If your meter is faulty or has come to the end of its life-cycle, then your supplier will have to replace the meter. In this instance, your meter will be replaced free of charge with a smart meter. So Energy, along with most suppliers, do not install traditional meters anymore unless there are exceptional circumstances. Traditional meters have a life-cycle of around 10 to 20 years and must be replaced to ensure they are recording energy usage correctly.

When are smart meters compulsory

There is no date on whether smart meters will be compulsory in the future. But if you refuse to have a smart meter installed and request a traditional one, you will be charged a fee of around £120 plus to have this installed. This is because most suppliers do not have any stock left of traditional meters, due to the fact smart meters are being adopted across the UK.

What are the benefits of a smart meter

Smart meters have many benefits that you should consider if you don’t have one yet. We’ve rounded up our favourites here, but check out our other smart meter blog for a deeper dive.

Real-Time Energy Usage Data

One of the biggest advantages of smart meters is their ability to provide real-time data on your energy usage. With this information at your fingertips, you can identify what’s using the most energy and then decide how to adjust your usage.

Reduced Carbon Footprint

Using smart meters to track and manage your energy consumption contributes to reducing your carbon footprint. By becoming more mindful of your energy usage, you can take steps to minimise your environmental impact.

Accurate Meter Readings

Smart meters do away with the need for estimated billing as they automatically send reads to your supplier. This ensures you are billed accurately, and you only pay for what you use.

Time-of-Use Tariffs

To take advantage of new innovative tariffs that charge you differently at different times, you’ll need a smart meter for this to work. We'll be launching these in the future, so having a smart meter means you'll be ready to take advantage.