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how to get a smart meter

To get a smart meter, you usually just need to contact your energy supplier and book an installation; in most of the UK it’s offered at no extra cost and installed for you at home.

Quick Scoop: Key Steps

  • Check you’re eligible
    Most households and many small businesses in England, Scotland and Wales can get a smart meter, though exact eligibility can vary by property type, location, and existing meter.
  • Contact your supplier
    Go to your energy supplier’s website, log into your online account, or call customer services and ask for a smart meter installation.
  • Book an appointment
    They’ll confirm when they’re ready to install in your area and offer you a date and time slot (often a 2–4 hour window in normal working hours).
  • Free installation (typically)
    For domestic customers in Britain, suppliers are rolling out smart meters at no extra upfront cost as part of the national programme.
  • On the day
    A trained installer visits, shows ID, turns off your supply briefly, swaps the meters, does safety checks, and explains your in-home display.

Step‑by‑Step: How to Get a Smart Meter

  1. Find your current supplier(s)
    • Check your latest gas and electricity bills or your online account to confirm who supplies each fuel.
    • If you have different suppliers for gas and electricity, you may need separate smart meter appointments.
  1. Register your interest / request one
    • Use your supplier’s website or app: most have a “smart meter” page or a link in your account to request an upgrade.
 * Or call customer service and say you’d like your meters upgraded to smart meters.

 * Some network and utility letters even include a link, reference number, or QR code you can use to request a free smart meter directly.
  1. Wait for confirmation
    • Your supplier will confirm that you’re on their installation schedule and when they expect to be able to fit your meter, which depends on your area, property type, and their rollout timetable.
  1. Book your date and time slot
    • Pick a convenient day and a time window (often 2–4 hours during working hours).
 * Make sure someone over 18 will be home for the whole slot.
  1. Prepare for installation day
    • Clear access to your existing meters (cupboards, under-stairs spaces, communal meter rooms, etc.).
    • Plan for your power and/or gas to be off for around 1–2 hours while the engineer works.
  1. During the visit
    • The installer should never turn up unannounced; they will show ID when they arrive.
 * They remove the old meters, fit the smart meters, run safety checks, and connect the in-home display.

 * They must give you energy-efficiency information and explain how to read and use the display.
  1. After installation
    • Your usage data is sent automatically to your supplier, ending the need for manual meter readings and reducing estimated bills.
 * You can usually see your energy use in near real time and in pounds and pence, which can help you cut waste.

Special Situations (Renting, Prepay, Business)

  • If you rent
    • You can usually still apply for a smart meter even if you’re a tenant, but it’s wise to discuss it with your landlord first, especially if your tenancy mentions the meters.
  • If you’re on prepayment
    • Many suppliers can replace traditional prepay meters with smart prepay meters, letting you top up online, via app, phone, or local shops.
* Prepayment can be more expensive than credit meters, so it’s worth asking your supplier if switching to a smart credit meter is possible and right for you.
  • For small businesses
    • Small business customers can also request smart meters through their energy supplier, following a similar contact–confirm–book–install process.

What’s Happening Lately (2025–2026 context)

  • Suppliers in Great Britain are working towards installing smart meters for most domestic properties by the end of 2026, though the exact timing still depends on the supplier and region.
  • Recent guides in 2025–2026 emphasise:
    • No extra upfront charge for domestic smart meters.
    • Clear rules on installer behaviour: no unsolicited sales talk during the visit unless you’ve agreed to it, and clear data‑privacy protections.

Simple Example: From “I want one” to Installed

You check your bill, see that Supplier X provides both gas and electricity, go to their website, and click “Request a smart meter.” A month later they email to say they’re ready in your area, you book a morning slot, the engineer arrives with ID, takes two hours to swap both meters, explains the in-home display, and you start seeing your usage and costs in real time the same day.

TL;DR: Contact your energy supplier (online or by phone), ask for a smart meter, book an installation slot, and an engineer will come out—usually at no extra cost—to fit it and show you how it works.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.