Smart meters are fast becoming a staple in many UK homes. With the government rollout aiming to offer every household a meter upgrade, it’s likely that you’ve already been (or soon will be) asked whether you want one. But what are smart meters, and what benefits can they bring to your home?
To learn more, we’ll take a look at 5 of the biggest benefits you’ll see by upgrading. Brush up on your energy management know-how in this guide.
1. Send Automatic Meter Readings
When answering ‘what are smart meters?’, the first thing to mention is that they’re just an upgrade to your energy meter. The main purpose of this new generation of meters is to send automatic meter readings to your provider. Upgrading to a smart meter means you can ditch having to send monthly readings yourself, giving you confidence that your monthly bills are accurate. It’s an easy way to remove a repetitive task from your monthly to-do list.
2. Track Your Spending
If you decide to use an in-home display alongside your smart meter, you can see your daily energy consumption in near-real time. Tracking how much you’ve used alongside a running daily (or weekly) cost is a really useful insight into your spending. This is fantastic if you’re looking to cut down on your electricity bills or improve your monthly budgeting, and it’s great for avoiding unexpected price hikes on your bill. Plan ahead, spot patterns early, and take control of your household costs by keeping a closer eye on your usage.
3. Identify Inefficient Appliances
Ever wondered which gadgets are guzzling the most power? Even though your smart meter can’t tell what devices you’re using, you can use your in-home display to gain a deeper understanding of your household energy usage can help you figure out which of your appliances are doubling up as energy drains. You might, for instance, notice that using your oven sends your daily spending sky-high, or that your dehumidifier is costing far more to run than it should. Once you’ve spotted these costly appliances, you can decide whether it’s time for a repair or replacement to get your energy bills back on track.
4. Tap into Off-Peak Energy Periods
Some tariffs offer cheaper energy at certain times of the day when demand is lower or there’s more electricity available. These are known as off-peak periods, and you might need a smart meter to take advantage of them. Once your new meter is installed, your provider can track your energy consumption and apply these lower rates depending on when you’ve been using electricity. Save money by doing laundry, running your dishwasher, or charging your electric car while electricity prices are lower.
5. Get a smart meter at no extra cost!
The best part about saying yes to a smart meter? You get all of these benefits at no extra cost to you. When you consider the possible energy savings of being able to track your consumption and get involved with the off-peak electricity periods, upgrading to a smart meter becomes a no-brainer.
The Bottom Line
From tracking your spending to spotting inefficient appliances, there are plenty of perks to having a smart meter. While you don’t have to say yes when asked if you’d like one, it could be a clever upgrade for your energy management. Just make sure to hop onto a tariff that lets you enjoy off-peak discounts to really make the most of your new smart meter.
