


Smart meter eligibility: can I have a smart meter?
Smart meters aim to make your daily energy use easier to understand. They help you manage your energy bills and track your energy use. All energy suppliers are obliged to offer their customers a smart meter before the end of the smart meter rollout.
But, in certain circumstances, some energy suppliers aren't quite ready to install smart meters for all of their customers just yet. If you’re not sure whether you meet the requirements for smart meter eligibility, read on to get the answers.
What's on this page?
- Can anyone have a smart meter?
- Why can’t I get a smart meter?
- Can you have a smart meter with economy 7 or economy 10?
- Can you have a smart meter if you have storage heaters?
- Can you have a smart meter if you have solar panels?
- Can you have a smart meter in a flat?
- Can you have a smart meter if you don’t have wifi?
- Can you have a smart meter if you live in a rented property?
- Summary: who can get a smart meter?
Can anyone have a smart meter?
The government wants as many people as possible in Great Britain to get a smart meter. But there are some circumstances where you might not be able to get a smart meter right now.
Energy suppliers are responsible for providing and installing smart meters to all their customers, and they must meet the government's overall timescale and targets. Each energy supplier will have different plans for installing smart meters, so even if they can't offer you a smart meter yet, they are obliged to do so before the end of the rollout.
Why can’t I get a smart meter?
You should be offered a smart meter by your supplier before the end of the rollout. However, there are some reasons why you might not be able to get a smart meter right now:
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Your supplier is not currently installing smart meters in your area.
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You have storage heaters, and are on economy 7 or 10, and your supplier does not offer smart meters that work with economy 7 or 10 yet.
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If you live in a flat where your meters are far from your flat, you might not have been able to get a smart meter before. But new technical solutions are being developed, so check with your supplier again to see if they can now offer you a smart meter in a flat.
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You don’t pay the energy bills in your home. Only the person paying the bills can request a smart meter installation from their energy supplier. This applies to smart meter installation in a rented property, but Ofgem recommends that you inform your landlord first. If your landlord or someone else pays the energy bills, then you may not be able to arrange a smart meter installation with the energy supplier yourself. Instead, you’ll need to discuss it with the billpayer.
In most of these cases, individual circumstances and the supplier will determine who can get a smart meter. We recommend checking with your supplier about whether you can get a smart meter now and staying in touch with them for updates.
Can you have a smart meter with economy 7?
Yes, you can get a smart meter if you're on an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff. Your supplier is obliged to offer you a smart meter as part of the rollout. Whether you can get a smart meter right now depends on whether your energy supplier is ready to install one for you.
If you’re on Economy 7 or Economy 10 and want to get a smart meter, ask your energy supplier about this directly. Your supplier can let you know their plans and it's important that they know that you want to get a smart meter.
Even if your supplier can't offer you a smart meter yet, they are obliged to do so before the end of the rollout. We recommend checking back in with them every so often for updates.
Can you have a smart meter with storage heaters?
Yes, all energy suppliers are obliged to offer their customers a smart meter before the end of the rollout, even if they use any specific appliances, like storage heaters.
Storage heaters are great to keep your warm during chilly nights – don’t forget to ask your energy supplier if they are currently able to offer you a smart meter that works with your storage heaters.
Even if your energy supplier is not currently able to offer you a smart meter that works with your storage heaters, they should be able to offer you one by the end of the rollout. We recommend you contact your energy supplier about when they will be able to offer you a smart meter that can work with your current tariff and storage heaters.

Can you have a smart meter with solar panels?
You might have heard that smart meters and solar panels don’t mix, but that is not true. Smart meters are designed to be able to work with solar panels, and your supplier should be able to offer you one as part of the rollout.
But your particular energy supplier might not be ready to supply you with a smart meter that can work with solar panels just yet. If that's the case, your supplier will be able to give you more specific information about their timeframes and when you can get a smart meter.
Get in touch with your energy supplier to see when you can get a smart meter.

Can you have a smart meter in a flat?
Yes, smart meters are already being successfully installed in many flats. Even if you rent your flat, you can still ask your energy supplier to fit a smart meter in a rented property if you are the billpayer. It is recommended to discuss this with your landlord first.
However, where you live, the type of home you live in, and the age and type of your existing meter may mean that your energy supplier might take a little longer to get yours to you.
For example, when fitting a smart meter in a flat, having a big distance between your smart meters, where gas or electricity enter your property, and your in-home display (which stays in your flat) can be a challenge for smart meter installation. But new technology is being developed and there are now more solutions available. If you tried to get a smart meter in a flat before, but weren’t able to, check with your supplier again. They may be able to install a smart meter now.
If you want to get a smart meter in a flat, ask for one from your energy supplier and start your discussing your options. Your energy supplier will be able to tell you if they can fit one in your home.

Do smart meters need the internet? Can you have a smart meter without wifi?
Smart meters do not use wifi or broadband, so, yes, you can have a smart meter without wifi. Instead of wifi, smart meters use a secure network managed by the DCC to share information either to your in-home-display or to your energy supplier.
The network that smart meters use to connect and transmit information is independent from wifi and designed to be as secure as possible. If you don’t have wifi in your home, you can still benefit from a smart meter.
Can you have a smart meter in a rented property?
Yes, if you’re renting a property and pay the bills for gas or electricity, you can have a smart meter installed. The billpayer can request a smart meter from their energy supplier to help them manage their energy bills and track their energy usage.
If you want to get a smart meter while renting, we recommend letting your landlord know first. There might be rules in your tenancy agreement about the type of meter that can be installed in the property. Even if your tenancy agreement says you need your landlord’s permission to change the meter, Ofgem says your landlord or letting agency shouldn’t unreasonably withhold their permission or prevent you from getting a smart meter.
We have created some templates to help you:
- Email or letter to let your landlord know you are requesting a smart meter installation in your rented property.
- Email or letter to ask your landlord if you can have a smart meter in a rented property, if there’s a clause in your tenancy about needing permission.
If you’re renting and the landlord pays the energy bills, it’s still worth asking your landlord if they can request a smart meter installation in the rented property on your behalf.
So, who can get a smart meter? Can anyone have a smart meter?
The government wants as many people as possible in Great Britain to have smart meters.
Energy suppliers are responsible for providing smart meters to their customers, and they must meet the government's overall timescale and targets. Each energy supplier will have different plans for installing smart meters, so even if they can't offer you a smart meter yet, they are obliged to do so before the end of the rollout.
Small business can also get smart meters to help them manage their energy bills – find out more about smart meters for business.
Want to know more about smart meters?
- About smart meters and renting: smart meter guide for renters and landlords.
- Smart meters and wifi: why smart meters don’t need wifi to work.
- Smart meter cost: how smart meters are installed at no extra cost to you.