How smart meters work

  • Your smart electricity meter shows you how much electricity you're using – and how much it costs – in real time.
     
  • Your smart gas meter also gives you this information, but half an hour after you've used the energy.
     
  • Smart meters also automatically send us meter readings (every half hour, every day or once a month). This allows us to bill you for the energy you use, rather than send you estimated bills.

Change your reading frequency

Where to see your energy use when you have a smart meter

1. See your energy use on the meter and your in-home display:

  • You'll see how much electricity you're using – and how much it costs – in real time
     
  • You'll get this information for gas too, but half an hour after you've used the energy (a gas smart meter only wakes up every half an hour to give updates; this is to save its battery life)

Find out more about your in-home display


2. See your energy use in Energy Hub in MyAccount:

  • If you've chosen half-hourly or daily meter readings, you should start seeing your energy use in Energy Hub a few days after your smart meter installation; it gets updated every two days
     
  • If your meter gives monthly readings, you'll see your energy use two days after your first month ends – as long as we have enough data. If not, you should see your energy use a few days after your second month ends.

Find out more about Energy Hub

How to fix a problem with a smart meter

Take a look at how to fix common problems with your smart meter.

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