Smart Meters

In the UK, the government is aiming for 80% of homes in England, Scotland, and Wales to have a smart meter by the end of 2025. Smart meters can be an attractive option to potential renters and Ofgem, the energy regulator, states that landlords should not unreasonably prevent tenants from requestion one, even if the tenancy agreement states that tenants need permission. Tenants should, however, inform their landlord or managing agent prior to arranging installation of a smart meter.

What do smart meters do?

Smart meters measure how much gas and electricity you use and wirelessly sends this information to your provider and, if you have one, your in-home display (IHD). This means you do not have to manually check your meter and send readings to your provider. This also eliminates someone having to come out and look at them.

The IHD that comes with your smart meter shows how much energy you are using at any one time, and how much it will cost you in pounds and pence, helping users to stay on top of their energy usage and payments.

The display is not the meter itself; you will still have one for gas and one for electricity, and they will be installed where your current energy meters are, which is where your energy enters your home. They still have their own reading displays that can be read in the same way as traditional meters and you can still manually send these to your provider should you want or need to.

You can choose how frequently your smart meter sends data to your provider, which can be every half an hour, once a day or once a month. For the most up-to-date readings, you should set your smart meter to send readings every half an hour – this is particularly important if you have a time-of-use tariff, including those that allow cheaper overnight electric vehicle charging.

Who is eligible for a smart meter and what are the benefits of getting one installed?

Tenants paying for their energy can request a smart meter for their rented property, or they can ask their landlords and managing agents to arrange for one to be installed.

You do not need to have a wi-fi or a broadband connection in your home to have a smart meter, as they use their own secure national wireless network exclusively for them – much like a mobile phone network to send data directly to your energy company about how much gas and electricity you are using.

Smart meters help users to better understand how they use energy in their homes and encourage them to be more energy efficient.

Installing a smart meter can help users have a better understanding and be in control over their energy usage, and budget accordingly for their bills.

There are certain schemes and tariffs that tenants can access which reward them for changing how and when they use their energy.

Tenants that are on a prepay scheme and opt to upgrade to a smart meter can access new features, such as being able to top-up their credit online or on-the-go.

Financial support from the government or energy supplier can be automatically added to the smart meter.

Are there any downsides to getting a smart meter installed?

It has been known on occasion that smart meters fail to send readings, as they lose connection with the energy supplier, so users should keep an eye on their energy account and statements, which will state when readings have been received, to make sure they are getting through to prevent falling behind on payments. The energy supplier should be informed immediately if you suspect it is not receiving your readings or that they are incorrect, so you are accurately billed.

Do smart meters store any personal information?

Smart meters do not store or transmit personal information that could identify you. They do not have your name, address, or bank details. Your energy supplier has this information on your account instead.

The information smart meters have on your energy use is your data, so you can choose what you want to do with it – and change your mind about how much you share and how often. The only exception is when your data is required to be used by your provider for a regulated purpose. 

Do meter readings still ever need to be taken?

The process for taking a meter ready varies by the type of meter and the energy company. Smart meters are designed to do this for you, so you will only need to take a manual reading if you’re switching suppliers, moving home, or if you’re energy company cannot take one remotely (or you may just want to check for your own peace of mind). To take a reading, you may be able to take one from the IHD, but it is best to take one from the meter itself. You are looking for a row of numbers in front of the letters KWH – this is your meter reading. Ignore any zeros at the beginning and any numbers after a decimal point, if you have any.

For example, your meter reads: 0012345.6 KWH, your meter reading is 12345.

(need an image of a meter with a keypad)

The way to read your meter depends on whether you always pay a single rate or two rates – one during the day and a cheaper rate at night. Most will pay one single rate, but if you have an Economy 7 meter, you pay two rates. If you are unsure of this, you will see this information on your bill.

Taking a gas meter reading

Again, to take a reading, you may be able to take one from the IHD, but it is best to take one from the meter itself. To take a gas reading, you are looking for METER INDEX with a row of numbers followed by M3. Ignore any zeros at the beginning and any numbers after a decimal point.

For example, your meter reads METER INDEX 000 123.456 M3, your gas meter reading is 123.

The meter may just simply display 00012.3 M3, so your gas reading is 12. It all depends on the type of meter you have. The main thing to remember is that KWH reads electricity and M3 is gas.

What happens when a tenant moves out?

Smart meters work in both credit and prepay mode, so landlords do not need to change the meter between tenants.

Smart meters also help during any void periods; regular meter readings can ensure you are being billed accurately and you can also keep a close watch on energy consumption to reduce waste in empty properties.

Automatic meter readings mean accurate bills at the end of a tenancy, so smart meters are beneficial to landlords for marketing their property with reduced energy bills. There are still grants available for rented properties to help improve energy efficiency.

At KPR we understand the ever-changing demands of the industry and strive to address the issues agents and property owners face. If you would like to find out about what KPR can do for you and your business, feel free to speak with our helpful team today!

We have our own in-house development team with knowledge on modem technology and methodologies, which keep KPR current and always focusing on the next level.

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