Should I Get a Smart Meter? Benefits and Everything Else You Need to Know

Are you wondering how to get your house share fitted up with a smart meter? Interested to know if it’ll save you money on energy bills? Then you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll help you understand everything about smart meters and the benefits they offer, along with how to install and read a smart meter.

What is a Smart Meter & How Does it Work?

A smart meter is a digital meter that measures your electricity (and often gas) consumption and collects data about your usage behaviour using wireless technology. It helps you understand your electricity consumption so that you can adjust your usage in the future if required. Furthermore, it regularly sends usage data to your service provider, so as to continuously monitor and update your billing.

However, to be able to read your smart meter, you either need to get yourselves an in-home display meter, find out how to read that specific model (more on that later) or ask your service provider for the data. If your service provider shares your power consumption details through their app, then it definitely makes sense to regularly check on your consumption through this app.

Benefits of Getting a Smart Meter Installed

Smart meters come in handy for everyone, regardless of budget constraints. Here are a few benefits of getting a smart meter installed:

1. They largely remove the need for meter readings

With crisp and clear readings that are pulled directly from the smart meter, your energy provider will never have to pester you again. You can choose how often to send your energy provider updates (at least once a month).

2. Your bills will be more accurate

Not only that, but your billing will be accurate and you’ll no longer be paying based on estimates. If you’re actively trying to cut down on your energy bills, then this should result in immediate savings on your end.

3. They help you understand your energy behaviour

Furthermore, having a smart meter allows you to understand your usage behaviour to become more energy-efficient and save money on monthly bills. You’ll start noticing patterns within your usage and spot trigger points where money can be saved.

4. They help you conserve

Electricity is a resource we shouldn’t take for granted. Hence, smart meters allow us to understand if we’re consuming more than we actually need. In a world where every resource matters, going green and giving the environment a helping hand should be at the top of our collective agenda.

5. They help you find better alternatives

Once installed, you’ll find it easier to analyse and find affordable energy plans. Switching to a cheaper provider can save you bucket loads in the long run. You should never just assume that you’re on the cheapest rate energy rate.

6. They assist in designing newer electricity systems

By collecting data and monitoring consumption habits, smart meters assist professionals in designing more power-efficient solar and battery systems.

7. They can get you quicker assistance during a power cut

Smart meters tell your energy provider when power cuts occur, so you don’t have to contact the energy provider yourself. This means that power cuts can get resolved much more quickly than with standard meters.

Smart Meter Installation

If these benefits appeal and you’d like to get a smart meter in your rented home, then you can request one through your service provider. Luckily, the process for getting a smart meter installed is actually a really simple one. Pretty much all energy suppliers will install smart meters at no extra cost, with this process only taking a couple of hours.

Not all providers offer them as standard, but those that do often don’t charge for the service, with installation taking 4-6 weeks. Bulb are one of the service providers who offer free smart meter installations.

Before the Installation

Before your installation, your energy supplier will contact you to arrange a date and time. If there’s anything that needs doing on your end prior to their arrival, then they’ll let you know. Engineers will need access to your traditional meters, so be sure to clear out any cupboards if necessary.

During the Installation

To complete the installation, the electricity and/or gas supply will need to be totally switched off, so it’s probably best to plan your day around this.

Although different suppliers may install slightly different looking smart meters, every meter must still meet a common set of technical standards. You need a separate electric and gas smart meter, depending on what you’re getting.

Your supplier should offer you an in-home display. Though these aren’t essential, they do provide a brilliant way of seeing how much energy you’re using and how much it’s costing. These displays track your energy usage in real-time through pounds and pence, making it seriously easy to keep an eye on your spending.

When the installation takes place, the installer will fully explain your smart meter system and how it works. They’ll also check it’s working properly, provide a guide for usage and answer any questions you may have.

After the Installation

Once your smart meter has been installed, meter readings will be automatically sent to your energy supplier. This means that you’ll start receiving accurate bills, rather than estimated bills.

You’re in control of how often meter readings are sent to your supplier. The most common options are monthly or daily updates.

How to Read a Smart Meter

In-Home Displays

If you’ve got an in-home display (a portable device with a screen), then you might be able to take a reading from it. Select the ‘meter reading’ option from the menu on the screen. If available, this is the quickest option to take.

Reading Your Smart Electricity Meter

How you take a reading will depend on the type of smart electricity meter you have:

If your meter has a keypad – Press 9. The letters ‘IMP KWH’ will appear. Then, a series of numbers will appear, followed by KWH. Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

If your meter has A and B buttons under the screen – Press the A button. Press the A button again until ‘TOTAL ACT IMPORT’ appears with numbers that are followed by KWH. Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

If your meter has a green A button to the right of the screen and a white B button below it – Press the white B button. This should make your screen light up. Wait until the screen says ‘meter boost’. Press A and a series of numbers followed by KWH should appear. Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

If your meter has 3 buttons on the right of the screen – Press the middle button. Write down the number below IMP from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

If your meter has 1 orange button and 2 blue buttons – Press the orange button on the left of the screen. Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

If you have a meter with two white buttons on the right of the screen – Your meter will automatically change between four different screens. Wait for the one that shows numbers followed by KWH. Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

If your meter has 2 buttons on the right of the screen (with one saying ‘reconnect’) – Press the ‘display’ or ‘display select’ button. Press this button again until you see numbers followed by KWH. Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

If your meter has a green A button and a grey B button on the right of the screen – You don’t need to press any buttons with this one. Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

Reading Your Smart Gas Meter

Again, how you take this reading depends on the type of meter you have:

If your meter has A and B buttons under the screen – Press the A button. Then, press the A button again until ‘METER INDEX’ and a series of numbers followed by ‘M3’ appear. Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

If your meter has 3 square red buttons – Press the left button. Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

If your meter has a circle button and two arrow buttons – Press the middle circle button. Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

If your meter has a keypad – Press 9, you’ll then see ‘VOLUME’ on the screen. Wait until this changes – you’ll see numbers followed by ‘M3’. Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

If your meter has orange and blue arrow buttons – Press the orange button. Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

If your meter has two white buttons to the right of the screen – Press the right button (it could be labelled ‘OK’ or have an arrow on it). Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

If your meter has a button to the left and right of the screen – Press either of the buttons on your meter. Wait until ’01’ appears, with numbers followed by a small ‘M3’. Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.

Should I Get a Smart Meter?

By monitoring consumption, smart meters are a great way to reduce the amount of energy you use and therefore save money on your bills. Most importantly, if you’re renting, smart meters will help keep a track of your usage to not only keep bills as low as possible, but also conserve more power and be more environmentally conscious.

Furthermore, you can find out your peak consumption hours and the tariff used during that time. Hence, you can also shift your electricity usage to off-peak timings to get charged less than in peak hours. While selecting your energy provider, you must also ensure that you consume green and renewable energy for more flexible tariff plans.

Wrapping Up

We hope we helped you understand why a smart meter is a great choice if you’re looking to saving money on your energy bills.

If you’re unsure about the best energy provider, Resooma is a leading service provider that rolls all your household bills (whether this is gas, electricity, water, Wi-Fi, TV, etc.) into one bill. We also offer smart meters to all our customers.