Smart and AMR Metering for business
Upgrading to the latest ‘SMETS2’ smart or AMR electricity meters can bring important benefits for your business, and plays a key role in helping Britain achieve net zero.
- The RTS service is being phased out from 30 June 2025, affecting all energy suppliers.
- Without an upgrade, your heating and hot water may be disrupted.
- Act fast, although we’ll try and prioritise your appointment before the switch off in your area.
Benefits of upgrading to smart
Unlike 'Non-Half-Hourly' (NHH) meters, smart meters can record and send meter readings automatically, up to every half-hour. This brings important benefits for businesses, as well as the energy system.
Accurate billing
Smarter data means no more estimates, so you only pay for what you use
Automatic readings
Smart meters do the work for you, so no more manual readings
Gain data insights
Save cash and carbon with smart insights to help change how your business uses energy
Access the best deals
Half-Hourly data will get you the best products and tariffs, ready for the switch to MHHS
Flexible, bespoke service
We’ll work with you to make your meter upgrades as easy as possible. We can even offer:
- Out-of-hours appointments
- A bespoke, project-managed service across multiple sites
- Bulk unaccompanied visits for some metering set-ups
Choosing between SMETS2 and AMR
Certain metering set-ups may be unsuitable for a SMETS2 meter and may require a different type of smart meter called an Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) meter.
Whilst the benefits above apply to both meter types, AMR meters have a few key differences.
Smart (SMETS2) meters
- Cost-neutral with NHH meters and installation is free
- Smart meters are only available for whole current metered supplies.
- No need for you to agree a separate Meter Operator contract
- Installation typically takes between 60 and 90 minutes with power turned off for about 30 minutes.
AMR meters
- Available for Current Transformer (CT) metered supplies and Whole Current (WC) metered supplies.
- Allows you to select your preferred Meter Operator and Data Collector. We can provide Meter Operator services at a competitive price.
- AMR meter Installation takes between 60-120 minutes. The power may need to be off for around 90 minutes if the supply is not CT-metered.
- We have a range of communication solutions available for sites with limited telecoms signal or DCC coverage.
Some customers choose to opt for AMR instead of smart, even if they’re eligible for both.
If your business already has AMR meters or half-hourly metering at other premises, then it may be more convenient to have consistency by opting for AMR again. This allows you to have your portfolio of meters supported by the same meter and data provider, including your AMR and Half-hourly settlement meters and sub-meters.
Why is the industry switching to smart?
The government mandate
Energy suppliers must replace all NHH (non-half-hourly) legacy meters with the latest smart meters ('SMETS2' or AMR) by the end of 2025, in preparation for the industry-wide MHHS reforms.
This is part of the government-led initiative to create the national energy infrastructure needed to achieve net zero.
A smart step to net zero
Smart meters play a key role in Britain's transition to net zero by helping to modernise the energy system.
Having smarter data on energy consumption across the country helps National Grid forecast energy demand more accurately, save energy, and bring benefits to consumers.