Smart meters are modern devices that track your gas and electricity usage, much like traditional meters, but they automatically send this data to your energy supplier. This technology ensures that both you and your energy provider receive accurate, regular updates on your energy consumption, eliminating the need for you to manually send in meter readings. As a result, your bills should always reflect actual usage.
A smart meter typically comes with a small display unit, often called a smart meter monitor, which allows you to see your real-time energy consumption and its associated cost. In many cases, this information is also available through your energy supplier’s online platform or mobile app. Having access to this data can help you take control of your energy usage, potentially reducing your consumption and saving money.
Smart meters work by sending your energy usage data to your supplier via wireless networks, much like mobile phone signals. Your gas meter, electricity meter, and smart meter monitor communicate wirelessly through a communications hub, usually connected to your electricity meter. This hub then sends your energy usage data to your supplier through a wider network, known as the smart meter wide-area network.
While electricity smart meters are directly connected to the mains and measure your energy usage in real time, gas smart meters are battery-operated. They typically “wake up” every 30 minutes to take a reading. Once the data is collected, it is encrypted and transmitted as a secure message. The communications hub establishes a wireless network within your home, allowing it to receive data from the meters and send this information to your smart meter monitor. The data is also sent to the Data and Communication Company (DCC), which forwards it to your energy supplier and local network operator. This helps energy networks to improve their systems and allows your supplier to create accurate bills and present detailed information on your usage through their app or online account.
The technology used in smart meters and their communications hubs can vary depending on your location. In some areas, cellular and wireless mesh technology is used to send data to the central network, while in others, long-range radio is the preferred method. Most homes will have a standard hub, but in cases where a stronger signal is needed, a dual-band hub or a specialised ‘alt HAN’ hub might be installed to ensure communication between the meters and the supplier, particularly in homes with thick walls or meters located far apart.
It’s important to note that smart meters differ from energy monitors. While energy monitors can display how much electricity you’re using, they don’t send this data to your energy supplier. With a smart meter, however, you generally won’t need to manually read the meter unless it stops functioning correctly. Some smart meter monitors display the meter readings, and you can scroll through the various screens to access this information. If necessary, readings can also be obtained directly from the meters themselves, which usually have a button to light up the digital display. If you’re unsure how to do this, your energy supplier or the instructions provided by your meter installer can help.
Despite the widespread adoption of smart meters, you are not required to have one if you don’t want it. Energy companies are obliged to take reasonable steps to install them, as part of their licence to supply gas and electricity, and they have government-mandated targets to meet. Failure to meet these targets can result in penalties, so energy firms are keen to roll out smart meters. If your energy provider contacts you to replace an old meter or install a new one, and you’d prefer not to use the smart functionality, you can ask for the communications to be disabled so that it operates like a traditional meter. However, if your meter needs replacing due to safety concerns, it’s advisable to accept the replacement.
Smart meters are designed to offer various benefits, including potential financial and environmental savings. They eliminate the need for estimated bills, allowing you to see exactly how much energy you’re using and what it costs. This transparency can also highlight which appliances are contributing the most to your consumption, helping you to make more informed decisions about how to reduce energy use. For prepayment customers, smart meters simplify the process of receiving energy support payments and setting up automatic top-ups, reducing the risk of running out of credit unexpectedly.
In addition, smart meters are integral to the transition towards smart grids. These advanced networks use digital technology to help energy providers predict and manage electricity demand more efficiently, which in turn helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels. By encouraging the use of electricity during off-peak times through flexible tariffs, smart meters can play a crucial role in decarbonising the energy system.
Smart meters offer a modern solution to energy management, providing real-time data, more accurate billing, and tools to help both households and energy companies operate more efficiently. With their role in supporting smart grids and helping to balance electricity demand, they contribute to a more sustainable future while offering practical benefits to consumers.
CyanConnode Holdings plc (LON:CYAN) is a world leader in the design and development of Narrowband RF mesh networks that enable Omni Internet of Things (IoT) communications.
