When you’re on a tight budget it can be a struggle to make ends meet, even when you’re doing everything you can to save money. A smart meter could make things a bit easier.
With a smart meter, you can see how much energy you’re using – and what it costs – on an in-home display. This could take some of the guesswork out of balancing your budget. However, there are lots of myths about smart meters that often put people off installing them. We’re working with Smart Energy GB to bust some of those smart meter myths and spread the word about how smart meters can work for you.
What is a smart meter?
Smart meters are the next generation of gas and electricity meters. They are being installed in homes across Great Britain at no extra cost, to replace traditional meters. They measure how much gas and electricity you’re using, but rather than keeping that information hidden away on a meter outside or under the stairs, you can see your energy use in near-real time on an in-home display, which is sometimes called an IHD. It comes with the smart meter and can help you keep a closer eye on how much energy you’re using, and how much it’s costing you. The in-home display usually sits somewhere convenient in your home, such as on the kitchen counter.
Unlike traditional meters, a smart meter sends your gas and electricity readings directly to your energy supplier so you shouldn’t have to. It also means that you should receive accurate bills based on how much energy you use, rather than an estimate.
Why might a smart meter be good for me?
With rising energy prices a serious concern for people across society, we’re all on the look out for ways we can reduce the amount of energy we use. Smart meters can be a helpful way to understand how much energy you’re actually using, which is the first step to reducing your consumption.
The in-home display means you can see what you’re spending on energy in pounds and pence. The smart meter and in-home display can help you identify which appliances are using the most energy and identify where savings can be made.
It takes some effort to make the most of your smart meter and if you want to use it to identify where you’re using the most energy, you’ll have to experiment a bit. You can try turning different devices on one at a time to see how much your usage goes up by looking at the in-home display.
For example, check your in-home display before and after you do a load of washing to see how much the average load costs. If you’re really keen you could try turning different rings of your distribution board on and off to see which floor and rooms of your property use the most energy. Just seeing how much your energy costs you each day can have a knock-on effect on how much energy you use and help you to change your energy habits. However, it’s worth remembering that it’s always important to use enough energy to keep yourself and your home warm and healthy.
How smart meters make Britain’s energy system smarter
As a nation, we are using more energy than ever before. It’s important we start to make better use of green energy, like solar power and wind. That means we need a flexible energy system that provides more power when people want it.
Smart meters help with this, because they provide information about how much energy people use at different times of day and of the year. That information can help make better decisions about how energy is produced and stored.
Now, let’s bust some myths
Installing a smart meter is going to cost me money
Getting a smart meter won’t cost you any extra cash. The in-home display comes with the smart meter and you won’t be charged extra on your bill just because you have a smart meter.
Will I need to get a new smart meter if I switch suppliers?
The latest second-generation smart meters let us switch to other providers without interrupting our supply. Obviously switching right now isn’t offering the gains it used to, but as and when the energy crisis eases it might become a useful tool again.
I’m a prepay customer, so a smart meter won’t work for me
Smart meters work for both prepay and credit customers. With a prepay smart meter, you can top up online or via a mobile phone as well as in a shop. The in-home display will show you when funds are running low and you need to top up.
How will I know my personal data is being kept safe?
The only people who can see your information are you and your energy supplier, and the only information that gets sent to energy suppliers is how much energy you use and when you use it. They can’t see how you’re using that energy, or when the washing machine is on!
I don’t have the internet, so a smart meter won’t work for me
Smart meters aren’t connected to the internet and the in-home display isn’t connected to the internet either. This means you don’t need to have internet access to get one.
I live in a rented property, so I can’t have a smart meter installed
So long as you pay your own energy bills, you can have a smart meter installed. If you pay in an ‘all-inclusive’ arrangement where your bills and rent are combined, it could be more complicated. We recommend you speak to your landlord before you get a smart meter, to make sure there are no issues with your tenancy agreement.
If you think a smart meter would be good for you, you can find out how to request one by going to the Smart Energy GB website. With energy crisis looking set to continue, now could be the perfect time to have a smart meter installed and take control of your energy use.
[icon name=”exclamation-triangle” prefix=”fas”] Please note
Smart meters can help you save energy but it’s not automatic. You can use the in-home display to work out how to save energy around the home.
Some homes can’t get a smart meter yet. Your energy supplier can tell you if you can have one and how soon it can be installed.
