[Poppy_EONNext]

Hey Community 👋

With more and more homes getting smart meters, I wanted to put together a useful guide to answer some of the most common questions and help you get the most out of them. This guide will walk you through what to expect, how to use your new devices, and bust some common myths.

Smart Meter Appointments: What to Expect
If you're booking an installation, here's what you need to know: Smart installation process 👷

• It's free. The installation itself is provided at no extra charge.
• Booking: You book directly with us, or on your online account. We will offer you a time slot, usually a 4 hour window on a weekday.
• On the Day: An engineer will install the new meters in the same location as your old ones. They will typically turn off your power for a short time (around 30-40 minutes per fuel). They will also check your appliances (like your boiler or cooker) to ensure everything is working safely afterwards.

Ready for a smarter way to manage your energy? Book your appointment today! 😎


The In Home Display (IHD)
The IHD is the small device you get with your smart meter. It's not the meter itself, but a portable monitor that connects to it wirelessly.
Need the user guide for your IHD? Check it out here 👉 IHD User Guides

• Real-time info: It shows you how much energy you're using in near-real-time, displayed in pounds and pence.
• Track your usage: You can see your energy use for the day, week, or month, which helps you spot patterns and see where you can save.

Smart Meter Myths: The Truth Uncovered 👀

• Myth: "They spy on you." 🕵️‍♂️
  Fact: Smart meters only send data about your energy usage. They don't collect personal information like your name or what appliances you're using. Your data is encrypted and protected by strict security standards.
• Myth: "I rent, I can't have one installed" 🏠
  Fact: As long as you're paying the bills, you’re entitled to ask for a smart meter. It’s worth checking with your landlord just in case, to see if any rules on your tenancy agreement might forbid you to get one.
• Myth: "Smart Meters are not safe."
  Fact: Smart meters comply with all UK and EU safety standards and they’re fitted by trained installers. And just to add in case there’s any doubt – there’s clear evidence via the government that exposure to the radio waves produced by smart meters do not pose a health risk.
• Myth: "You can't switch suppliers." ❌
  Fact: This was a problem with the very first smart meters (SMETS1), but the latest generation (SMETS2) are designed to work with any supplier. If you do switch, your meter will remain smart.
• Myth: "They're compulsory."
  Fact: While the government wants every home to have one, it is entirely your choice. Your energy supplier must offer one to you, but you can decline.

Smart PAYG: A Smarter Way to Pay As You Go
If you have a prepayment meter, a smart meter can make your life much easier!
Check out this section for all things SPAYG 👉 Prepayment & Smart PAYG


Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) Readings
For those with solar panels or other renewable tech, you can get paid for the surplus energy you export to the grid.
To be paid accurately, you need a smart meter that records Export.
For all things FIT/SEG head over to this section 👉 FIT/SEG



Have you heard any interesting myths or rumours about smart meters? We'd love to hear what's been circulating! Let's bust some myths together! 💜

[geoffers]

@Poppy_EONNext - I think that you should point out that although the IHD connects to the meter(Comms) wirelessly using the HAN, that in some houses this won't work due to distance/wall thickness/remote meter rooms in flats etc.

And where the HAN won't support an IHD, the gas meter may not work in smart mode either for the same reasons, as it uses the same wireless connection with the same restrictions

Then mention the work around using alt-han which hopefully should allow for both a functioning IHD and gas meter

[Poppy_EONNext]

That's an excellent point @geoffers, thank you for sharing!
I'm planning to address this in my next post i'm working on, keep an eye out for it 👀
It's a critical factor in why smart meters might not be fully "smart" for some households 🙂

[meldrewreborn]

@Poppy_EONNext

"On the day" - Providing your electricity service cables and fuses are up to an acceptable standard then installation will go ahead. If there are issues with the incoming supply that precludes fitting the smart meter, the engineer will leave you a card and refer the matter to the Network Operator for your area, who separately will arrange rectification work - at no cost to the customer. Once that is done then a new appointment to fit the smart meter can be arranged. Bringing equipment up to the latest specification is a good thing for the customer, but it does delay the process.

[Poppy_EONNext]

Your explanation perfectly covers why a smart meter installation might be delayed and the steps needed to resolve it. Thank you @meldrewreborn for the helpful information! 🙂