UK Home Energy Guide for New Smart Meter Users
Just had a smart meter fitted? This step-by-step guide shows UK households how to read it, understand your bills and start cutting home energy costs today.
What is a smart meter and how does it help at home?
Smart meters are the next generation of gas and electricity meters being rolled out across the UK. They automatically send accurate meter readings to your energy supplier and work with an In-Home Display (IHD) so you can see your usage and estimated costs in near real time.
For UK households, that means:
- No more manual readings – your bills are based on actual usage, not estimates.
- Live cost tracking – see what you are spending by the hour, day or week.
- Better control – small changes in behaviour can be seen instantly on your display.
- Access to smart tariffs – including some time-of-use and off-peak deals.
Understanding your In-Home Display (IHD)
Every supplier uses slightly different IHD models, but most UK smart meter displays share the same core features. Learning these basics will help you get value from day one.
1. Fuel selection
Your IHD typically lets you switch between:
- Electricity only
- Gas only
- Combined usage and cost
Look for a button or on-screen icon labelled fuel, gas, electric or similar.
2. Cost vs kWh view
Most smart displays can show your energy use as:
- £ / £ – estimated cost
- kWh – the amount of energy used
Use the cost view to manage your budget and the kWh view to compare one appliance with another.
3. Time periods
You can usually switch between:
- Now or Live – what you are using at this moment.
- Today / Yesterday – a daily total.
- This week / This month – for medium-term tracking.
This is ideal for seeing how changes in your routine affect your bill.
4. Usage indicators & alerts
Many IHDs have a traffic light or bar gauge:
- Green – low usage.
- Amber – moderate usage.
- Red – high usage.
Some can also alert you if your usage spikes above a set level, helping you spot waste quickly.
If your display has gone blank, lost connection or is showing old data, contact your supplier — they may be able to reconnect it remotely or replace the device.
How to use your smart meter to cut home energy bills
Your smart meter is more than just a new gadget. Used well, it becomes a powerful tool for reducing your UK home energy costs. Follow this simple process:
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Establish your baseline
For a normal day, take note of your total daily cost and kWh on the IHD. This is your starting point.
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Run quick appliance tests
Turn an appliance on, watch the live cost jump, then turn it off again. Try this with your kettle, oven, tumble dryer, electric heaters and gaming consoles. This helps you see which devices are most expensive to run.
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Target the big users first
Focus on appliances that drive the biggest change on your IHD, for example:
- Electric showers & immersion heaters.
- Tumble dryers & electric ovens.
- Fan heaters & old halogen or incandescent lighting.
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Make one change at a time
Change a habit (such as shorter showers or full washing loads at 30°C), then check your daily total again after a week. This makes savings easy to track.
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Review your tariff regularly
Use your accurate annual kWh figures to compare suppliers and tariffs, and make sure you are on the best home energy deal for your usage.
Smart meters and UK energy tariffs
Once your smart meter is installed and communicating correctly, your supplier can offer tariffs that rely on half-hourly or daily readings. These can be more flexible than traditional plans.
Common smart tariffs for UK homes
- Standard variable or fixed tariffs – smart meters simply remove the need for manual readings.
- Time-of-use tariffs – different prices for peak and off-peak hours, ideal if you can shift usage.
- Electric vehicle (EV) tariffs – cheaper off-peak electricity rates for overnight charging.
Always check:
- The unit rate (p/kWh) for day and night.
- The standing charge per day.
- Any exit fees or contract term.
Your smart meter data gives you accurate insight into when you use power. Use this to decide whether a time-of-use or off-peak tariff would actually save you money.
Reading your smart meter and bills
Although your smart meter automatically sends readings to your supplier, you may still want to check them yourself or submit a manual reading if your meter temporarily goes offline.
How to read a smart electricity meter
Most UK smart electricity meters have a digital screen with buttons marked such as A, B, Menu or arrow keys. Typically you can:
- Press the main button to cycle through screens until you see kWh for electricity.
- Note the total kWh figure (ignore any numbers after the decimal point).
- Provide this figure to your supplier if required.
How to read a smart gas meter
Gas smart meters also show readings on a digital display:
- Press a button to wake the meter and cycle through screens.
- Look for the volume in m³ (cubic metres).
- Record the numbers before the decimal point.
Your supplier will convert gas volume in m³ into kWh on your bill using an industry-standard formula, taking into account calorific value and correction factors.
Smart meters and prepayment (Pay As You Go)
If you use a prepayment meter, a smart meter can make topping up simpler and give you more visibility of your remaining credit.
- Top up online or via an app – no more visiting the shop with a key or card.
- See remaining credit on your IHD – helps avoid running out unexpectedly.
- Low balance alerts – some displays warn you when credit drops below a chosen level.
Ask your supplier how your specific smart prepayment meter works and where to top up securely.
Practical home energy-saving tips using your smart meter
Small adjustments at home can add up to significant annual savings, especially when guided by real-time feedback from your smart meter.
Heating & hot water
- Turn your thermostat down by 1°C; many UK homes save around £80–£100 a year.
- Use thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) to avoid overheating unused rooms.
- Set hot water timers so cylinders are heated only when needed.
- Compare daily costs on your IHD before and after changes.
Kitchen appliances
- Boil only the water you need in the kettle.
- Use lids on saucepans and match pan size to hob ring.
- Run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads on eco cycles.
- Check how much your oven or tumble dryer adds to your hourly cost.
Lighting & electronics
- Switch to LED bulbs throughout your home.
- Turn lights off in unused rooms — check the effect live on your IHD.
- Enable power-saving modes on TVs, consoles and PCs.
- Use timer plugs or smart sockets to avoid leaving devices on standby overnight.
Laundry & bathroom
- Wash clothes at 30°C where possible.
- Air-dry laundry instead of using a tumble dryer when weather allows.
- Keep showers short, especially if you use an electric shower.
- Monitor how these habits change your weekly usage.
Frequently asked questions about home smart meters
Do I have to get a smart meter?
Smart meters are not compulsory, but energy suppliers in Great Britain are required by the government to offer them to households. You can accept, decline, or ask to be contacted again later.
Will a smart meter save me money automatically?
The meter itself does not lower your unit rates. Savings come from using the information it provides to change habits, choose the right tariff and reduce wastage around your home.
What happens if I change supplier?
Most modern SMETS2 smart meters stay smart when you switch supplier. Some first-generation SMETS1 meters may temporarily lose smart functionality, but many are being remotely upgraded so they work across suppliers.
Will a power cut affect my smart meter?
During a power cut your electricity supply is off, so your IHD will also go off unless it has its own battery. Once power returns, your smart meter will normally reconnect automatically.
Is my data secure?
Smart meter data is protected by UK and EU data protection laws. Your supplier can only access the usage information they need to bill you and must obtain consent for any additional data use.
When to contact your energy supplier
Get in touch with your supplier if you notice any of the following:
- Your IHD has stopped showing live data for more than a few days.
- Your bills are based on estimates despite having a smart meter.
- Your meter display is blank, frozen or showing an error code.
- You are considering a new smart tariff and want to understand how it fits your usage.
They can run remote checks and advise you on next steps, including tariff options or, if required, a meter inspection.
Plan your next step to lower home energy costs
Your smart meter gives you the insight you need to take control of your UK home energy. The next step is to make sure you are on the right tariff and that your home is running as efficiently as possible.
Use your latest smart meter readings and bills to review your options, then set simple, realistic goals — such as cutting your usage by a small percentage each month or shifting more of your consumption to off-peak hours if your tariff allows.
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