Smart meters are an essential upgrade to our energy system. They provide accurate and near real time data on energy use, helping put consumers in control of their energy. Smart Energy GB work to help people understand smart meters and the rollout across England, Scotland, and Wales. This is why they’re being offered by energy suppliers to every home in England, Scotland and Wales.
Many people have questions about smart meters, their benefits and the national rollout. Therefore, Smart Energy UK have provided answers to frequently asked questions below about smart meters and the rollout.
Can I switch energy supplier if I have a smart meter?
Yes. If you have a smart meter the process for switching suppliers is exactly the same as it is with a traditional meter, you don’t need to get new smart meters if you switch suppliers. Second-generation meters allow you to switch seamlessly between suppliers, and more than 5.7 million have already been installed. With a first-generation meter at this point in the rollout you may find that if you switch supplier you could temporarily lose smart functionality. This means you may need to send in your meter readings in order to get an accurate bill (just as you would with traditional meters). However, we know that many people with first-generation smart meters retain some or all of their smart functionality when they switch suppliers. If your meter loses smart functionality it can be frustrating, but it is a temporary situation. First-generation smart meters will soon be enrolled into the new secure smart data network ‘over the air’ without needing a visit from an installer. Over 1.7 million first-generation meters have already been enrolled, and this process is due to be complete by the end of the rollout. These smart meters will then be able to deliver all the benefits of smart, with any supplier.
Can smart meters help people save money?
Yes. More than 80 per cent of people with a smart meter have taken at least one step to reduce their energy use. It is estimated that smart meters will take £300 million off consumer’s bills in 2020, rising to more than £1.2 billion per year by 2030 - an average saving of £47 per household. These savings are just the start, with the potential for more from new products and services enabled by a smart energy system.
Are smart meters compulsory?
Smart meters are not compulsory; it is entirely the consumer’s choice. The government requires energy suppliers to offer smart meters to all homes and small businesses across Great Britain and Ofgem have made it clear that they will address any issues around how this is done.
Do smart meters mean that suppliers can charge higher prices without the consumer knowing?
No. Energy suppliers can only charge prices that consumers have agreed to – and that won’t change. Consumers with smart meters will be able to access tariffs that allow them to get cheaper prices at times when demand is low but it will always be the consumer’s choice. Smart meters are the next generation of gas and electricity meters. They’re being offered by energy suppliers to every home in England, Scotland and Wales. We’ve created this leaflet to help you understand the facts about smart meters and answer some of the most common questions.
Is my personal data at risk if I have a smart meter?
No. Smart meters are very secure. This is because they have a security system developed by leading experts in industry and government including GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre. Your name, address and bank account details are never stored on the meter, only how much energy you use. Smart meter installations are also making homes in Great Britain safer. The smart meter rollout is the first time there has been a nationwide programme checking the safety of the gas and electricity in all our homes. In 2017 and 2018, smart meter installers flagged over 635,000 existing safety problems such as dangerous wiring and fuse boxes or even faulty boilers. Many of these faults would not have been picked up if not for smart meter installers.
I’ve read that energy network companies will be given the power to turn off my appliances without me knowing?
It is up to consumers to decide when to use their appliances. It is also important to note that first and second generation smart meters do not have the technical capability for energy networks to have control over your energy supply. There has been media coverage of a proposal from SSE Networks about an emergency safety net for the networks, which suggested that smart meters could in future be used to turn off appliances should the grid get overrun. This proposal has not yet been considered by Ofgem, but if a scheme like this were developed it would require additional technology and consumers would have a choice whether or not they wanted to take part in it. It is not something that consumers should be concerned about.
Do I need a broadband connection in my home to have a smart meter?
No. Smart meters use an entirely separate, bespoke wireless system. You don’t need Wi-Fi in your home for it to work and it won’t use your Wi-Fi if you have it. Your smart meter and in-home display communicate via a secure national network which is solely for smart meters.
Can you get a smart meter if you live somewhere with a poor mobile signal?
Second-generation smart meters, currently being installed in homes across Great Britain, operate on a smart data network which isn’t reliant on mobile phone reception. This new network will cover more than 99.25% of Great Britain by the end of the rollout. First generation smart meters used mobile phone signal to communicate with suppliers. These meters are currently being enrolled into the new smart data network. This process has begun and is being completed in batches.
Could smart meters impact my health?
No. Public Health England sees no risk or dangers to health from smart meters. The smart meters used in Britain have undergone one of the most rigorous smart safety testing regimes in the world and exceed every UK and EU safety standard. Public Health England, the government’s agency on public health, has said that exposure to radio waves from smart meters is many times lower than the exposure from Wi-Fi and mobile phones and is well within guideline levels.
