Electricity Smart Meters - how do they work?

Smart meters in off mains gas areas

Last month on this news blog I told you about our partnership with our colleagues in the ACRE Network and Smart Energy GB and what we are doing to raise awareness about the benefits of smart meters.  This month we’re focusing on the how smart meters work as some people have asked us about coverage in rural areas.

Smart meters and the wireless system

Smart meters are the new generation of gas and electricity meters. They are being installed in homes across Great Britain at no extra cost, to replace the traditional meters. Inside your home, smart meters use their own secure, wireless network using radio waves, just like mobile phones or TVs do. (It won’t use your wifi and you don’t need wifi in your home for it to work). Your smart meter will link to a similar wireless network outside your home. This network is run by the new Data and Communications Company, which is overseen by the energy regulator Ofgem. You don’t need a broadband connection for the smart meter to work, but your meter will need to connect to the smart meter network. Some areas currently don’t have coverage, but as the network rolls out more areas will get connected and 99.25 per cent of Great Britain will be covered by 2020.  

Smart meter will enable you to see exactly how much energy you’re using, as you use it, and what it is costing in pounds and pence. Once you have a smart meter, you’ll only get accurate bills from your energy supplier, just as you do with your phone bill. This means the end of estimated bills. No more strangers coming into your home for meter readings. No more having to read the meter or trying to work out your bill.

Everyone in Britain will be offered a smart meter by their energy supplier by 2020 as part of a national upgrade to our energy system. You can call your energy supplier to find out when you will be able to get one. If your supplier is not installing immediately in your area, you will be put on a waiting list. 

Please visit Smart Energy GB for further information.