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Page last updated on 27th May 2025

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Smart meter risks: are smart meters safe?

You might have heard or read about concerns around smart meter hacking, which might have made you a little bit nervous about upgrading to a smart meter. However, safety and security have been at the heart of the smart meter rollout, right from the start. Today, we’re going to address your questions and concerns, taking you through all you need to know about smart meter risks before you make any decisions about upgrading your home energy system.

So, read on to get the facts about smart meter safety!

What's on this page?

Can smart meters be hacked?
Are there any smart meter security risks?
Is my personal information safe with a smart meter?
Understanding the risks of smart meters: fire risk
Summary: how dangerous are smart meters?

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Can smart meters be hacked?

Let’s start with a basic concern: can smart meters be hacked? In short, smart meters are secure, because ensuring privacy has been at the heart of the smart meter rollout from the beginning. The system was designed to prevent smart meter hacking as much as possible. While no electronic device can be 100% protected from hacking, smart meters are as safe as they can be.

GCHQ and the National Cyber Security Centre lead the security process that all smart meters have to go through. You can find out more about this on the NCSC website.

Are there any smart meter security risks?

Any security risks for smart meters are minimal. To fully understand if there are any smart meter security risks, let’s take a glance at how smart meters handle data. Smart meters were specifically designed with top cyber security experts to encourage security best-practice at every stage. The system has been specifically designed to prevent hacking.

Smart meters send data through their own dedicated communications system. This bespoke wireless connection shares energy-use data with your supplier, via the DCC. Smart meters do not use the internet or wifi to transfer data. Smart meters measure household energy use only. They do not know when your individual appliances are turned on or off.

Your energy use data belongs to you, and it’s up to you how much you share with your supplier. The more information you share, the more your supplier can support you to better understand and manage your use. But at the end of the day, the amount of data you share will always be your choice.

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Smart meter security risks: is my personal information safe with a smart meter?

The information your smart meter holds is about how much gas and electricity you've used. A smart meter doesn't share personal information that could identify you, such as your name, address or bank account details.

So, instead of personal details, your smart meter shares meter readings with your energy supplier so they can prepare an accurate bill. They cannot share this data further without your permission.

Energy network operators can access some anonymised energy use data to help them run the networks more efficiently. But this information cannot be linked back to you as an individual. To find out more, read our guide to who can access your smart meter data.

All this information about your energy use is strongly protected. The data is transmitted safely, using a dedicated and secure wireless network. You can change your preference for how often you share meter readings by getting in contact with your supplier directly. Your energy supplier may use this information to offer you tailored energy efficiency advice and improve the service they provide for you, but only if you have given them permission to do so. Your personal information belongs to you, and upgrading to a smart meter does not mean your details will be shared with anyone that you haven’t given permission to.

Smart meter security vulnerabilities: is my smart meter listening to me?

Smart meters, and the in-home display they come with, don’t have any video or audio recording components within them and therefore can’t record anything you do at home. Your smart meter isn’t listening to you - this just simply isn’t possible for a smart meter to do.

Smart meters are usually installed in the same place as your analogue meter. Inside your home, you will be offered an in-home display. This device simply shows you the data being read by your smart meter – it has no way of recording information. To learn more, read our guide to smart meter data collection.

Are there risks associated with smart meters: fire risk?

Before smart meters can be installed in your home, they all must comply with the safety legislation set in Great Britain. Smart meters have undergone one of the most rigorous safety testing regimes in the world, and they exceed every UK and EU safety standard.

This was done to reduce any smart meter risks, such as a potential fire. When it comes to smart meters, fire risk is very low. It's incredibly rare for a smart meter to be faulty, and even rarer for there to be a fire.

Safety is a huge priority for the government and the energy industry. In the unlikely event that there is an incident with smart meters and fires, there are processes in place to protect affected households.

But are there smart meter fire risks during installation?

Energy meter installations (traditional or smart) involve installers working with electricity and gas. This can present a smart meter safety concern, but every possible action is taken to reduce this. Installers are trained to a high specification. This includes a NVQ level 2 qualification and, if working with gas, accreditation by Gas Safe.

The physical processes for installing smart meters and traditional meters can be similar. A smart meter has the same basic electrical and gas connections as a traditional meter. The meter installer will follow the same mechanical and safety processes for installation.

When your smart meters are installed, the installer will carry out visual safety-checks. This can help discover problems with other household appliances that could be dangerous. As part of these safety checks, between 2017 and July 2024, smart meter installers spotted over 2,525,000 safety issues unrelated to smart meters. If you're getting a smart meter installed and the installer sees anything that’s not safe, they will let you know. If they think there could be a major risk to your safety, they can decide not to install the smart meter till it’s fixed. In the long run, upgrading to a smart meter might help you identify safety issues that you weren’t aware of.

Smart meters safety: the use of lithium batteries

Gas smart meters typically use lithium batteries as their power source. Electricity smart meters usually use mains power. According to the London Fire Brigade, millions of people safely use lithium batteries every day. They are in many common electrical devices. This includes mobile phones, mobility scooters, laptops, and e-cigarettes.

The lithium batteries in gas smart meters do not need charging. Instead the batteries are replaced when they reach the end of their life. They are expected to last approximately 10 years before needing to be replaced.

So, how dangerous are smart meters? Or rather, how safe are smart meters?

As we’ve seen, smart meters are not dangerous. Safety is a priority in the energy industry and smart meters in Great Britain are required to comply with the relevant safety legislation, including fire safety. Top cyber security experts worked on the rollout of smart meters to prevent hacking and, in terms of data, smart meters only transmit data about your total energy use. Your personal data is protected.

While no electronic device is entirely without risk, smart meters have been designed with your security in mind. To learn even more about the safety of smart meters, read our guide about smart meters and health.

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We don't currently have information from your energy supplier regarding their bookings for smart meters, but we will connect you to their website so you can contact them directly.