Smart meters are becoming more and more popular in UK homes. Do you have a smart meter in your home? If not, now may be the time to start thinking about getting one installed. Especially with the cost of living crisis affecting families all over the UK, a smart meter can be very beneficial. If you’re not sure what smart meters are all about, this article may be very helpful to you.
Energy expert Matthew Jenkins at MyJobQuote.co.uk has teamed up with a range of other experts in this field to create this ultimate guide on the benefits of using smart meters in your home. Find out what smart meters are and why they’re so beneficial below.
What is a Smart Meter?
Smart meters are a relatively new type of gas and electricity meter. These meters replace the old traditional meters, including prepay key meters. These traditional meters are usually found in a cupboard, in the garage, under the stairs, or somewhere on the outside of your home.
Smart meters measure the amount of gas and electricity you’re using in real-time. This information is displayed on the screen of the smart meter, along with the amount that your usage is costing you. This provides you with a much better way to track how much gas and electricity you’re using and can also help you better budget for your energy bills.
How Does a Smart Meter Work?
Smart meters are brilliant little tools as they help to remove inaccurate energy bills. Your smart meter will show a digital meter reading. It uses a secure smart data network which automatically and wirelessly sends the readings to your energy supplier each month. This means that you always receive accurate bills and never have to rely on estimates.
Smart meters also come with the benefit of a handy in-home display screen, which shows you exactly how much energy you’re using and how much you are spending on your bills in real time.
What Are the Major Benefits of Smart Meters?
There are many benefits to owning a smart meter. Below, we will highlight the main benefits of owning one of these handy devices:
Prevent The Need For Scurrying For a Reading
“I would say that taking a reading from your energy meter is not typically a process that is fun. It involves scurrying around in a dark cabinet, writing down strings of numbers, and then attempting to get in touch with your energy provider. There are some locations where it is really challenging to even locate your meters in the first place,” says Steve Elliott, business owner at Restoration1.
“It is possible to cross that item off your list of things to do because smart meters are able to relay the readings from your gas and electricity meters to your energy provider automatically”, Elliott continues.
Save Money on Your Energy Bills
“By the end of the year 2025, every household in the United Kingdom will be provided with a smart meter. In an effort to bring the energy infrastructure of the nation up to date, a number of suppliers are urging their clients to switch to smart meters. If you agree to have a smart meter placed, the suppliers will provide you with discounted rates on their tariffs in exchange for your cooperation,” says Richard Adams, lead researcher at WithinHome.
“The Uswitch app, which is called Utrack, is a tool that assists you in reducing your usage and lowering your costs”, Adams adds. Once you’re aware of how much energy you’re using and how much it’s costing you, you may think twice about your usage and may take action to reduce the amount you’re using. This can then result in lower energy bills.
A More Environmentally Friendly Option
“From an environmental standpoint, smart meters can contribute to a greener planet. By providing data that helps to balance the demand and supply of energy, they support the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid. This could be crucial in reducing our carbon footprint. I believe that in the future, the data from smart meters will be pivotal for smart home technology, allowing for automated adjustments to optimize energy usage,” says Daniel Carter, chief technology officer at EcoMotionCentral.
“Smart meters are the building blocks of a more efficient, responsive, and sustainable energy system, offering a win-win for both consumers and the environment. In my view, the widespread adoption of smart meters is an essential step toward a smarter, cleaner energy future,” Carter adds.
Avoid Overestimated Bills
It’s very easy for you to forget to read your meters on a regular basis. Whenever you forget to read your meter, your energy supplier will provide estimated bills based on estimated usage. This is very often higher in cost than what you’re actually using and can result in overestimated bills. This means that you will pay more for your energy bills than what you should be.
Overestimated bills can mean that you have months where you’re paying more than you should be. A smart meter prevents this from happening. You will always know exactly how much you are using and how much you can expect to pay, and this information is also automatically sent on to your energy provider, eliminating the need for estimated bills. With a smart meter, you will only ever pay for exactly what you’re using and never anything more.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many benefits to using smart meters. Many homes in the UK are already taking advantage of these benefits. If you don’t have a smart meter currently, it’s worth getting in touch with your energy supplier to see how you can get started with getting your own smart meter installed.
By the end of next year, it is expected that all homes in the UK will be running on smart meters. So, why not get ahead of the game and get yours installed now? The sooner you reach out to your energy provider, the sooner you can reap all of the benefits above. It’s very simple to do so, and smart meters are also completely free to have installed.
