A smart meter is a new kind of gas and electricity meter that can digitally send meter readings to your energy supplier for more accurate energy bills. Smart meters come with in home displays, so you can better understand your energy usage.
How does it work?
Smart meters are a next generation meter for both gas and electricity. They are a replacement for standard meters, which use technology created decades ago and require households track their own readings and submit them to suppliers if they want accurate bills.
Smart meters use a secure national communication network (called the DCC) to automatically and wirelessly send your actual energy usage to your supplier. This means households will no longer rely on estimated energy bills or have to provide their own regular readings.
Smart meters will also come with an in-home display. This display gives the household real-time usage info, including kWh use and cost.
What are the benefits of having a smart meter?
More accurate bills Smart meters mean the end of estimated bills, the end of having to remember to provide meter readings and/or have a stranger come into your home to read your meter.
Better understanding of your usage With the smart meter display, you can see the direct impact your habits and lifestyle have on your bill. This is particularly useful to prepayment meter customers, who can better track how their usage impacts their available credit.
Innovative energy tariffs When suppliers have a better understanding of usage patterns, more innovations can be made to the types of tariffs they offer
Top – Up Smart prepay makes it much easier for you to top up your credit. Depending on your supplier, you’ll be able to top up directly online, through an app or at the local shop. No more keys, cards or inconvenient visits to the shop.
Its User-Friendly Your prepay in-home display will have an easy-to-understand screen that will show you how much credit you have left. So no more late night dashes out to the shop.
What appliances consume more power Because smart meters show you exactly how much gas and electricity you’re using in near real time, you can see when you are using the most energy and which appliances are most responsible. Knowing where to cut back can save both energy and money.
