How smart meters can help you save energy (and money) this winter

As the days grow shorter and the temperature starts to fall, many of us brace for the inevitable rise in heating bills. Winter can be one of the most expensive seasons when it comes to energy use - but what if there was a way to keep costs under control without sacrificing warmth?

That’s where smart meters come in. Let's explore exactly how a smart meter can be your ally against rising winter energy costs.

Why do energy bills spike in winter?

During the winter, your energy bills go up because you’re likely to be using more energy than usual; the heating comes on, and the lights are switched on for longer. It’s not only you who’s using more energy - everyone else is doing the same, increasing overall demand. This can mean that it’s more expensive for suppliers to buy energy from the Grid, which may have a knock-on effect on customers, as standard variable tariffs can rise. With EDF, you can beat the standard variable tariff with our fixed energy tariff to protect yourself against any potential hikes in energy prices over winter.

Benefits of smart meters, especially in winter

Smart meters provide automatic meter readings to your energy supplier, helping keep your bills accurate and up to date. They give you more visibility of your energy use, which comes with a range of benefits:

• More accurate bills - you’re only paying for the energy you actually use, because your bills are based on accurate readings, not estimates
• Lower energy usage - smart meters help you visualise and understand how you’re using energy, helping you manage it better - potentially lowering your bills and carbon footprint
• Access to exclusive money-saving deals - from exclusive solar, EV, and air source heat pump tariffs, to our Sunday Saver Challenge offering up to 16 hours of free electricity every week. Remember, a smart meter is the key to all these opportunities - it all starts with smart!
• Smart meters support a greener Grid - by sharing anonymous data on national energy use, you can help energy suppliers balance supply and demand more efficiently.

How smart meters track energy usage in colder months

Smart meters measure the flow of gas and electricity in your home at regular intervals (typically every 30 minutes for gas and in near real-time for electricity) and send this data wirelessly to your energy supplier. They send the data securely through a private network, so don't worry, your personal data and information is safe! 

The meters display this information on a portable device called an in home display (IHD) that you can keep in your home, so you can see how much energy you're using at any time and exactly how much it's costing you. 

Smart meters in winter: do they really cut costs? How to maximise your savings

A smart meter won’t cut your bills on its own, but it gives you a clear insight into how you’re using energy. With this knowledge, you can spot patterns, adjust your habits, and make smarter choices that add up to real savings.

Top tips to save with a smart meter

Test your appliances 

Note your baseline energy use with everything on, then switch an appliance on or off and watch how the display changes - electricity updates within seconds, gas within about 30 minutes. Compare the difference to see exactly how much energy or money each device uses. This may be the push you need to avoid leaving appliances on standby.

Unlock bigger benefits with time-of-use tariffs 

Shift your electricity use to save! With our Sunday Saver Challenge, if you cut back during peak times on weekdays, we’ll give you up to 16 hours of free electricity the following Sunday. And with our FreePhase Smart time‑of‑use tariffs, you can enjoy cheaper “green” hours overnight, mid‑priced “amber” hours during the day, and higher “red” rates at peak times.

Do smart meters cost to install, and is it worth installing one now?

It's free to install a smart meter! It’s worth getting one now, before the height of winter, so you can track and manage your energy use effectively. You can book an installation time that suits you, and one of our engineers will visit to install your new smart meter. Smart meter installations take about an hour, and we'll get you connected to your free in-home display (IHD). Once fitted, your installer will walk you through some useful ways to maximise the benefits of your new smart meter.

If you're more aware of when and how you use energy, you can make some simple habit changes to avoid steep increases in your bills during the chillier stretch of the year and take advantage of exclusive energy deals.

Why a smart meter in winter is essential for tracking energy costs

Our Energy Hub makes your smart meter even more powerful in winter, giving you clear, real-time insights into your energy use and costs, so you can stay in control when bills typically rise. Energy Hub is an online dashboard available in MyAccount or on the EDF app, which transforms data from your smart meter into easily understandable charts.

With Energy Hub, you can:

• See your energy use by the hour, day, week or month
• Monitor both kWh and money spent, so you know exactly how much you're spending on your energy use
• Spot peak times when your household uses the most energy and adjust your habits to save

In winter, when you're using more energy to stay warm, a smart meter paired with our Energy Hub becomes invaluable. By tracking usage daily, you can make smarter choices, like shifting high‑energy tasks to cheaper times if you’re on a time‑of‑use tariff - helping you keep control even during the coldest months.

Take control of your energy costs and enjoy peace of mind this winter.

Get a quote for an energy tariff   Book your smart meter installation