Page last updated on 16th March 2026
Wifi and smart meters: Does a smart meter need wifi?
Wifi is not required for smart meters to work. If you want to know more about how smart meters share information or how smart meters interact with wifi, you’re in the right place. Read on to find answers to questions, like “do you need wifi for a smart meter?” and “how to connect a smart meter to wifi?”
What's on this page?
- Do smart meters need wifi?
- Do you need internet for a smart meter?
- How do smart meters communicate?
- Do smart meters need wifi to work the in-home display?
- Is my information safe with a smart meter?
- Will a smart meter affect my wifi?
- Will my wifi be turned off during the smart meter installation?
- Do I need wifi to get a smart meter?
- Conclusion: does my smart meter need wifi?
Do smart meters need wifi?
No, smart meters don’t use wifi, and they don’t need wifi to work. You also do not connect a smart meter to wifi during the installation process either. Now you might be wondering, why? We’ll get into more detail below, but the simple answer is: smart meters use their own dedicated network to share information.
Do you need internet for a smart meter?
As we’ve established, smart meters don’t use the internet to share data, so they don’t need any kind of internet connection to work. Instead, smart meters use a secure network managed by the DCC. Smart meters use this network to share information with in-home-displays and energy suppliers.
Your suppliers may offer you an app or online portals to see your energy usage data. While these use the internet, they don't change the way your smart meter talks to your supplier.
To learn more, contact your supplier to find out if this is something they offer.
So, if they don’t use wifi, how do smart meters communicate?
Instead of using wifi, smart meters share data with the in-home display and suppliers using secure networks, which are managed by the DCC. You can learn more about smart meter networks from the DCC's website.
Most homes with smart meters have the following: an electricity smart meter, a gas smart meter, a communications hub, and an in-home display. Some homes that do not have a gas supply from the main grid won’t have a gas smart meter.
The communications hub creates a network, called the Home Area Network. This links the in-home display with the smart meters. The Wide Area Network is how the communications hub sends the meter readings to the energy supplier. The communications hub sends energy use information to the supplier using this secure network.
The networks that smart meter’s use are secure. Only you and your energy supplier can access the data smart meters share. Learn more by reading our smart meter data collection guide.
Do smart meters need wifi to work the in-home display?
At the point of installation, households will be offered an in-home display (IHD). This device shows in near real-time how much gas and electricity you’re using, and what it’s costing you.
The IHD receives information from the smart meter via the secure network. The secure connection between the smart meters and in-home display is only used to communicate between these two devices. So, to answer your question, “can you have a smart meter without internet?”, yes! Your smart meter doesn’t need to use the internet or wi-fi.
Is my information safe with a smart meter?
Smart meters are safe and secure. The only information a smart meter holds is about how much energy you've used, and what tariff you're on. It doesn't hold personal information that could identify you, such as your name or address.
Smart meters share your energy usage using the dedicated and secure wireless network. And if you’d like, you can change your preference for how often you share meter readings by getting in contact with your supplier directly.
Will a smart meter affect my wifi?
No – because smart meters do not use wi-fi, a smart meter should not cause any delays or issues with your wi-fi connection. If you experience issues with your wi-fi connection, contact your internet provider directly.
All smart meters installed as part of the national rollout follow UK and EU product safety legislation. This covers the correct use of radio equipment and emissions. As such, smart meters should not interfere with other appliances in your home, including your wifi.
Will my wifi be turned off when my smart meter is installed?
During installation, your electricity supply will need to be turned off for up to an hour to allow for the installation of your smart meter. This will mean your wifi router will be turned off during this time, but once it’s switched back on, your smart meter will not impact your wifi connection.
Do I need wifi to get a smart meter?
No, you do not need wifi to get a smart meter. This is because, instead of using wifi, smart meters share data with the in-home display and suppliers using their own secure networks. These networks are managed by the DCC—you can learn more about smart meter networks from the DCC's website.
Conclusion: does my smart meter need wifi?
No, you don’t need wifi for a smart meter. Smart meters don’t use wifi to send information to your energy supplier. You don’t need wifi to use the in-home display either. You can benefit from automatic meter readings and tracking your energy usage, whether you have wifi or not!
Find out more about smart meters
Our site is packed with all the essential smart meter info you need – find out answer to questions like: