What to expect from a smart meter installation

If you haven't had a smart meter fitted yet, here's what to expect when you get a smart meter installed. 

You don't have to accept a smart meter if you don't want one. But it's worth knowing that the smart meters currently being installed don't have the same problems you might have heard about with their earlier cousins. 

Keep reading to find out what happens during a smart meter installation, or find out what a smart meter is first. 

How to get a smart meter

Your energy company will get in touch to arrange a suitable time and date to fit your smart meters. Every household in Britain should be offered them by 2025. You can also contact your energy supplier to book an appointment. 

Energy companies should make an appointment in advance. It's unlikely that someone will knock at your door to make a smart meter appointment but, if they do, be very cautious. Ask to see official ID to ensure they’re not a rogue trader attempting to scam you, and rask the company to get contact you through more official channels. 

Find out more about doorstep scams and how to avoid them.

You’ll need to agree a day and time for your smart meter installation. You should get a confirmation of your appointment by email, message or phone. Ask for one if you don’t get it. 

A trained installer from your energy firm, or a company working for it, will fit your smart meters. You will need to be at home for the appointment.

If you don’t want smart meters, you're not obliged to have them. However, most energy companies do not have traditional meters to install anymore. 

If your meter needs to be replaced, you can ask your supplier to replace it with a smart meter that has its communications switched off so that it operates as a traditional meter.

Do I have a smart meter?

If you've had a new gas or electricity meter installed since 2009 it's likely to be a smart meter.

Check your latest bill or statement for clues such as:

• meter readings marked as 'smart' or 's'
• it's based on meter readings (rather than estimates) that you haven't sent to your supplier
• you're not being asked by your supplier for meter readings. 

A smart meter will also usually come with an in-home display showing you how much energy you're using in real-time.

Look at the meter itself too. Smart meters have digital displays and a small communications hub attached to one of them.

You can also use Citizen's Advice's tool to check if you have a smart meter.

How long does it take to fit a smart meter?

It typically takes around one hour for each smart meter installation. So if you're having both a smart gas meter and an electricity smart meter fitted, it could take about two hours.

But the time varies from property to property and depends on where your current meters are located.

Before a smart meter installation

Before your smart meter is fitted, your energy supplier should tell you:

• what to expect
• how long it will take
• if there's anything you need to do before the installation (e.g. clear out your meter cupboard or get access to the main fuse switch for electricity. In flats this can sometimes be behind a locked door, so you’d need to arrange access with the building manager).

If you know that there’s something unusual about your home or meters, tell your energy company when you make the appointment, or at least several days before the installation.

This will help to reduce the chance that the installation can't go ahead because of something the installer needed to know. Things it’s worth telling your energy company about include:

• if you have solar panels or generate renewable electricity another way
• if your gas and electricity meters are very far apart (they need to ‘talk’ to each other, which might require a special communications hub if this is a long distance)
• if your meters are inaccessible (for example high up on a wall, behind a locked door or gate, or in a very small cupboard)
• if you have a multi-rate meter (for example Economy 7, Economy 10, a grey or white meter, or any meter that directly controls your central heating)
• if you know your area has poor mobile phone signal. The latest smart meters use a different, dedicated smart meter wide area network but it might be worth your energy firm checking in advance whether your home is covered by this.

Find out more about whether poor mobile phone signal affects smart meters.

During a smart meter installation

Here's what to expect when the engineer arrives at your home:

1. They'll usually do a visual inspection of your boiler and other gas appliances to check they are working properly.
2. They'll take final meter readings from your old meters. This makes sure your account is up to date. You can note them down too for extra peace of mind.
3. Your old meters will be removed. 
4. The electricity and gas will need to be switched off for around an hour each. The engineer will tell you when they're going to do this.
5. Your new meters will be fitted: one for each fuel. If you have separate suppliers for gas and electricity, you'll need an appointment with each to change them to smart meters.
6. The engineer will check your gas supply by turning it on and relighting any pilot lights in your boiler.
7. They'll do a test with a plug socket to check that it's working as it should be.

If you have any mains-connected alarms, check that they're working correctly once the power is back on.

Your smart meter monitor

As part of the installation, you'll be given a smart meter monitor. You might also hear it called a smart meter in-home display or IHD. 

This isn't the smart meter. It's a handheld gadget that shows you what is going on with your energy usage, using data sent to it by your smart meters. They show:

• how much electricity and gas you’re using, in near-real time
• how much it’s costing based on your energy unit rates.

The installer should show you how to use your smart meter monitor. They might leave you some instructions, or you can often find instructions on your energy supplier's website.

Many energy suppliers also show your smart meter data in your online account or app.

Here's how to use your smart meter reading data. 

Your installer should also give you advice on saving energy in your home and how to use your smart meter to do this. Read our 10 ways to save money on energy.

They shouldn't try to sell you other products while they’re installing your smart meters. There's a code of conduct that forbids smart meter installers from doing this.

Safety problems found by smart meter installers

During a smart meter installation, engineers sometimes spot potential problems unrelated to your smart meter, such as defective wiring, equipment that is very old, blown fuses or faulty boilers. 

Between the start of 2017 and the end of July 2024, more than 2.5 million safety problems were identified by engineers fitting smart meters, according to government data.

If a problem is found, the installer’s priority is to make it safe. This can delay the installation process, and some problems might mean it’s not appropriate to install the smart meter at all. If so, the installer will explain why, and tell you what work needs to be done (by you, your energy company or your network operator).

Use Which? Trusted Traders to find reputable electricians or gas safe engineers near you.

How often will my smart meter need to be replaced?

Smart meters will need replacing around every 10 years – more often than traditional gas and electricity meters. Your energy company will tell you when your smart meter is due to be replaced, and arrange a time and date for this to happen.

Your gas meter is battery powered so, like traditional prepayment meters, will need to have its battery replaced when it goes flat. It should last for at least 10 years. 

Your gas smart meter should send a notification to your supplier when it needs replacing, but if you’re concerned, contact your energy firm. 

Smart electricity meters are mains powered.

Smart meter monitors can be either mains or battery powered. If yours stops working, it won’t affect your smart meter. 

Check our advice on smart meter problems and how to solve them if you're having trouble with your display.