Do I have to have a smart meter?

Smart meters are replacing the traditional meters in your home. Your energy supplier may have been in touch to offer you a smart meter. There are many benefits to having one. For example, they can help you take control of your energy bills. They also have environmental and infrastructure benefits. But if you’re not sure, read on to find out if you absolutely have to have a smart meter.

• Are smart meters compulsory: do have to have a smart meter by law?
• What if my supplier says I have to have one? Do I have to have a smart meter?
• Is it mandatory to have a smart meter to access the Demand Flexibility Service?
• Smart meter bullying: do you feel like you are being pressured by your supplier?
• Will smart meters become compulsory?
• Will the smart meter installer try to sell me other products or services?

No, smart meters are not compulsory. You will be offered a smart meter by your energy supplier before the end of the smart meter rollout, but it’s entirely your choice whether you accept the offer and get a smart meter installed.  

We recommend that you consider getting a smart meter for a variety of reasons. Smart meters help to upgrade Britain’s energy system and give you control and understanding of your energy bills, via the in-home display. They remove the need for estimated bills; communicating directly with your supplier to provide accurate and automated meter readings.

There are instances where your supplier isn't able to offer you anything but a smart meter, read more here to find out about that.

Learn more smart meter facts here. 

It is your choice whether to get a smart meter. But if your existing meter has come to the end of its life and needs to be replaced, your supplier might not be able to replace it with a traditional meter. Smart meters are the next generation of energy meters. So, some energy suppliers don't have traditional meters in stock anymore. For more information, please see the section 'I don't have a smart meter, can I refuse to have one installed?' in the Energy Ombudsman's smart meter FAQs. 

As part of the smart meter rollout, the government has set targets for energy suppliers to install smart meters in homes and businesses. This means your supplier should offer all their customers the opportunity to install a smart meter before the end of the rollout. How they encourage their customers to accept a smart meter and meet these targets is up to the supplier. 

For example, some might offer smart meter customers exclusive, money-saving tariffs, such as time-of-use tariffs. Each supplier will set out their own terms and conditions for each of their tariffs. For example, time-of-use tariffs charge a different price for energy used at different times of the day, or on different days. New time-of-use tariffs are only available to customers with smart meters, as regular automated meter readings are needed for suppliers to understand exactly when people are using their energy, and what price they should be charged for it. 

Speak to your energy supplier for any questions about particular tariffs and to find the right one for your energy needs. 

While energy suppliers should meet targets set by the government to install smart meters in their customers’ homes, it is up to each individual energy supplier how they encourage their customers to get a smart meter. So, the communication you receive could be different with different suppliers. 

There could be occasions where you will need to have a smart meter installed, for example, if your traditional meter has come to the end of its life and is no longer working. But this should be communicated to you by your supplier. 

If you’re concerned about the types of communication you are receiving from your energy supplier, contact them directly to find out how they can resolve this for you. If you want support raising these issues, Citizens Advice would be able to assist you.

No, there are no plans for smart meters to become compulsory. However, as the rollout continues, energy suppliers will want to meet targets and encourage individuals across Great Britian to upgrade to a smart meter. While your energy supplier will aim to show you the benefits you could gain by upgrading to a smart meter, the choice to install one or not remains in your hands.  

Smart meters are not compulsory, but there may be times when they are the only suitable option available. As smart meters replace traditional meters, the production of traditional meters will be reduced or totally phased out. If your current meter comes to the end of its life, it’s possible that the only option will be to replace it with a smart meter. 

However, there are many benefits to upgrading to a smart meter. One of the significant benefits is the impact on our energy system. With more smart meter data, the smart energy system will be enabled to: 

• Identify and respond to power outages more quickly.
• Better balance supply with demand, which then helps to...
• Reduce waste - in fact, the government predicts that the smart meter rollout could save £650m.*
• Enable energy suppliers to draw on more sources of local and renewable energy.

*Requires consumer action