MoneySavingExpert.com homepage
Cutting your costs, fighting your corner
Founder, Martin Lewis · Editor-in-Chief, Marcus Herbert
Search bar closed.
MSE News

One in four households now have smart meters

smart meter-hero.jpg
Callum Mason
Callum Mason
News Reporter
9 January 2019

A quarter of households in Britain have had a smart meter installed, MPs were told this morning.

At a meeting of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee – which scrutinises the Government's energy and business policy – Energy Minister Claire Perry said that 12.8 million smart meters had been rolled out, meaning "in general a quarter of all households have had an installation".

But she added that only 250,000 'switchable' meters had been installed as of last week, of which only 10,000 were in the north of England and Scotland. Perry admitted this was "far too few".

What are smart meters?

Smart gas and electricity meters are being installed by energy companies and should be offered to everyone in England, Scotland and Wales by 2020 – although a report by the National Audit Office in November said that this will not be met.

The meters send automatic meter readings straight to your supplier, theoretically ending estimated bills.

But first generation 'SMETS 1' meters frequently stop working when you switch supplier, so you'd need to start doing manual meter readings again if you did so. SMETS 2, the newer type, allow you to switch while keeping your meter's functionality.

SMETS 1 meters will no longer be installed from March. If you have one already, the plan is that in due course you will be able to remotely upgrade it with software to allow it to meet SMETS 2 specifications.

What to read next...

For more on cutting your energy bills see:

MSE Forum

A quarter of households have had a smart meter installed

Forum image
MSE Email icon 11 February 2025

For all the latest deals, guides and loopholes simply sign up today - it’s spam free!

Compare+ Home Insurance tool
Beat 19% price hikes
Stop overpaying on energy
Beat 6% April rise
Cheap medical insurance
Our five must-knows
30+ AI tools
To save time & hassle
Beat Microsoft price hike
Of up to £30 a year
Top 5% savings
Post base-rate cut
When will mortgages fall?
See lender-by-lender
Tools and calculators

Clever ways to calculate your finances

Find your odds of getting top cards
Find your odds for getting a cheap loan
Compare broadband, phone & TV deals
Compares thousands of mortgages
Eight calcs to help you work out the cost
We ensure you’re on the cheapest tariff