Smart meters are being rolled out across the UK and your supplier will probably offer you one at some point if they haven’t already. Here’s a straight look at whether they’re worth having.
The genuine advantages
The most obvious benefit is accurate billing. With a smart meter, your readings go to your supplier automatically, so estimated bills become a thing of the past. That alone removes a source of friction that catches a lot of people out — particularly when they switch supplier and end up in a dispute over a big catch-up bill.
The in-home display (the small screen that comes with the meter) shows you real-time energy use in pounds and pence. It sounds modest, but seeing the display spike when you turn on a kettle or tumble dryer does change how you think about usage. If you’re trying to reduce your bills, that feedback is useful.
Smart meters are also essential if you want to take advantage of time-of-use tariffs, like Octopus Go or Agile — tariffs that offer cheaper electricity overnight or during off-peak periods. You can’t access these without a smart meter. If you have solar panels, a battery, or an EV, this becomes particularly relevant.
The things worth knowing
Smart meters collect detailed data on your energy use. Your supplier will have access to this — how it’s used beyond billing is worth checking in your tariff terms if privacy is a concern.
There have also been compatibility issues with older SMETS1 meters when switching supplier — though the newer SMETS2 meters have largely resolved this. If you’re being offered a meter, it’s worth asking which generation it is.
Our take
For most people, the benefits outweigh the downsides — especially if you have solar, a battery, or an EV charger and want to make the most of off-peak tariffs. If you’re just on a standard tariff and happy with estimated readings, it’s less pressing. But they’re free to install and the worst-case scenario is modest, so there’s not much reason to refuse one.
