ELECTRICAL GUIDE

Electricity Meter Guide UK: Smart Meters, Types & Readings

Everything you need to know about your electricity meter in the UK — from the three types of meter and how smart SMETS2 meters work, to time-of-use tariffs, faulty meters, and the rules around electrical work near the meter.

Start 7-day free trial

Free for 7 days · No charge until day 8 · Cancel anytime · Used by 1,000+ UK electricians

11 min readUpdated 2026-05-18Andrew Moore, Founder of Elec-Mate

Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.

ShareXinW
Follow

1,000+

UK electricians

“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”

Daniel Palmer — DP Electrical

Key Takeaways

  • 1The three main types of domestic electricity meter in the UK are single-rate (standard), Economy 7 dual-rate, and smart meters (SMETS2).
  • 2SMETS2 smart meters communicate via the national Smart Metering Wide Area Network (WAN) and work with any supplier — meaning they do not go "dumb" if you switch energy supplier.
  • 3Time-of-use tariffs such as Octopus Agile allow you to pay less for electricity during off-peak periods and charge EVs or heat pumps cheaply overnight.
  • 4If you suspect your meter is faulty, contact your energy supplier — do not attempt to open or adjust the meter yourself. Your supplier can arrange a meter accuracy test.
  • 5Meter tampering (bypassing or interfering with an electricity meter) is a criminal offence under the Theft Act 1968 and the Electricity Act 1989, with potential for imprisonment.
  • 6Any electrical work that requires access to or work near the meter tails (the cables between the meter and consumer unit) must involve your Distribution Network Operator (DNO).
01 · Electrical Guide

Types of Electricity Meter in UK Homes

Understanding what type of electricity meter you have helps you manage your energy use effectively and ensure your bills are accurate. There are three main types of domestic electricity meter in use in the UK.

  • Single-rate (standard) meter

    The most common type. Records all electricity consumption at a single rate regardless of time of day. Displays one reading register. Compatible with all standard single-rate tariffs. Available in analogue (older rotating dial meters) and digital display versions.

  • Economy 7 dual-rate meter

    Records electricity usage at two different rates — a cheaper overnight rate and a more expensive daytime rate. Displays two register readings, often labelled "Night" and "Day" or "Rate 1" and "Rate 2". Designed for use with storage heaters and other overnight loads. The exact hours of the cheap rate vary by supplier and region.

  • Smart meter (SMETS2)

    Records electricity consumption in half-hourly intervals and transmits the data automatically to your supplier via the national Smart Metering Wide Area Network (WAN). No manual meter readings required. Compatible with time-of-use tariffs. Includes an In-Home Display (IHD) that shows your real-time energy usage and estimated cost. All new installations since around 2018 are SMETS2.

Free download

Get the BS 7671 A4:2026 Cheat Sheet — free

Every key change in the 2026 amendment on one page. AFDDs, TN-C-S protection, new schedule columns, model forms. Pinned on your van dash.

  • Every regulation change summarised
  • New model forms (EIC + MEIWC)
  • Free PDF — no subscription

We'll email it once. No spam — unsubscribe any time.

02 · Electrical Guide

Smart Meters (SMETS2): What You Need to Know

The UK government's smart meter rollout aims to replace all traditional meters with smart meters. As of 2026, approximately 60% of domestic meters in Great Britain are smart meters. All new smart meter installations use SMETS2 technology.

  • How SMETS2 works — SMETS2 meters communicate via the national Smart Metering Wide Area Network, managed by the Data Communications Company (DCC). Because the meter communicates with a central national infrastructure rather than directly with your supplier, it continues to function as a smart meter even if you switch energy suppliers.
  • Half-hourly data — SMETS2 meters record your energy consumption in 30-minute intervals. This granular data is what makes time-of-use tariffs possible — your supplier can see exactly how much electricity you used at each time of day and bill accordingly.
  • In-Home Display (IHD) — your smart meter installation should include an IHD — a small wireless display unit that shows your current electricity usage in watts, your daily and weekly costs, and your meter readings. Keeping the IHD visible in your kitchen or living room helps raise awareness of energy use.
  • Privacy — you can choose how often your smart meter shares data with your supplier: every 30 minutes, daily, or monthly. You can change this preference by contacting your supplier. More frequent data sharing is required to access time-of-use tariffs.
03 · Electrical Guide

Time-of-Use Tariffs: Octopus Agile and Others

Time-of-use (TOU) tariffs charge different prices for electricity at different times of day. They require a SMETS2 smart meter to function. They can offer significant savings for households with flexible loads — particularly EV owners and those with heat pumps or battery storage.

  • Octopus Agile — arguably the most well-known UK TOU tariff, Agile prices electricity in half-hourly slots based on the wholesale market price. Prices vary from very cheap (or occasionally negative — you are paid to use electricity) during low-demand periods such as windy nights, to higher during peak demand. An IHD or smart home system is helpful for managing your usage to take advantage of cheap periods.
  • Overnight EV charging — most TOU tariffs offer a significantly cheaper overnight rate, typically midnight to 6am or 7am. For an EV owner charging from a low overnight rate, the savings compared to a flat-rate tariff can be substantial — effectively reducing the per-mile fuel cost to 2p to 4p per mile in many cases.
  • Heat pump synergy — heat pumps can be paired with a thermal store and programmed to heat the store overnight using cheap electricity, then use the stored heat during the day. TOU tariffs make this significantly more economical.
  • TOU tariffs require behaviour change — to benefit from a TOU tariff you need to shift discretionary loads (dishwasher, washing machine, EV charging) away from peak evening hours. Households that cannot or will not shift loads may pay more on a TOU tariff than on a flat rate.
04 · Electrical Guide

How to Read Your Electricity Meter

Providing regular meter readings to your supplier ensures your bills are based on actual consumption rather than estimates. Here is how to read the most common meter types.

  • Digital display meter — read the digits shown on the display from left to right. Ignore any numbers shown in red or after a decimal point. For Economy 7 meters, the display will cycle through two readings labelled R1 (or Day) and R2 (or Night) — record both.
  • Analogue dial meter — read the dials left to right. For each dial, note the number the pointer has just passed (i.e., the lower number). If the pointer appears exactly on a number, write it down and put a question mark next to it — check the next dial to the right to confirm. Ignore the final dial (usually marked 1/10). Ignore any red dials.
  • Smart meter — your SMETS2 meter automatically transmits readings to your supplier. If you need to read it manually (for a supplier switch or a complaint), press the button on the meter face to cycle through the display. Look for the reading labelled IMP (import — electricity you have consumed) in kWh.
05 · Electrical Guide

Estimated vs Actual Bills

If you do not have a smart meter and do not submit regular readings, your supplier will estimate your consumption based on historical usage data. Estimated bills can lead to overpaying or underpaying — resulting in a large catch-up bill later.

  • Submit readings at least quarterly — most suppliers accept online meter readings and will issue an accurate bill immediately. Quarterly readings are the minimum; monthly is better if your usage varies seasonally.
  • Back-billing limit — UK energy suppliers cannot back-bill for energy used more than 12 months before the bill date if the error was not the customer's fault. This provides protection against very large catch-up bills from long periods of underestimation.
  • Read your meter when you move — always take a meter reading on the day you move in or out of a property and photograph the meter display. This prevents you being billed for the previous occupant's usage or losing energy credit on departure.

Try Elec-Mate free for 7 days

16 certificate types, 70+ calculators, RAMS, quoting, invoicing, AI agents, and 46+ training courses — from £6.99/mo.

Start free trial
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
06 · Electrical Guide

If You Think Your Meter Is Faulty

Electricity meters are generally very reliable and rarely fault — but it does happen. Signs of a potentially faulty meter include bills that are significantly higher than expected with no obvious change in usage, or a meter display that appears blank, flashing, or showing an error code.

  • Contact your energy supplier first — your supplier is responsible for the meter and will arrange a meter accuracy test if you request one. Do not attempt to open or adjust the meter yourself.
  • Meter accuracy test — the supplier will arrange for the meter to be tested. If it is found to be outside the permitted ±2% accuracy tolerance, they must replace it and may refund overbilled amounts for up to 12 months.
  • Contact your DNO for outages — if you have lost power and suspect it is a network fault rather than a problem with your consumer unit or meter, contact your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) — not your energy supplier. The DNO is responsible for the network up to and including the meter. The DNO's 24-hour fault number can be found on your electricity bill or via the 105 emergency number (free, works from any phone).
07 · Electrical Guide

Meter Tampering: The Consequences

Meter tampering — bypassing, interfering with, or deliberately damaging an electricity meter to avoid paying for energy — is a criminal offence in the UK. It is also extremely dangerous.

  • Criminal offences — meter tampering is an offence under the Theft Act 1968 (abstracting electricity) and the Electricity Act 1989. Conviction can result in up to five years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
  • Back-billing — energy suppliers use smart meter data, physical inspections, and network loss data to detect tampering. When tampering is discovered, the supplier can back-bill estimated stolen energy — often running to tens of thousands of pounds — using industry standard calculations.
  • Serious fire risk — bypassing a meter typically involves making unprotected connections in the live meter tails. These connections are upstream of any protection in the consumer unit, meaning any fault is unprotected and can cause a catastrophic fire. Deaths have resulted from tampered meters.
  • Insurance invalidation — home insurance policies are invalidated if illegal electrical work is discovered. A fire caused by a tampered meter may leave the occupant with no insurance cover for the resulting damage.
08 · Electrical Guide

Electrical Work Near the Meter: What Requires DNO Permission

The electricity meter and the meter tails (the cables connecting the meter to the consumer unit main switch) are the property and responsibility of the energy supplier or Distribution Network Operator. Electricians must not work on these without DNO authorisation.

  • What electricians can do — electricians can work on the consumer unit (from the main switch downwards) without DNO involvement. Replacing a consumer unit, adding circuits, and all downstream work does not require DNO permission.
  • What requires DNO involvement — extending or relocating meter tails, moving the meter position, upgrading from single-phase to three-phase supply, increasing the supply fuse size, and any work on the cutout (the sealed fuse before the meter) all require DNO authorisation. Contact the DNO in advance — this process can take several weeks.
  • Isolation for consumer unit work — when replacing a consumer unit, the electrician needs the meter tails de-energised. The DNO can provide temporary isolation at the service cutout, or some suppliers have remote isolation capability for smart meters. Arrange this in advance.

Are you an electrician? Manage all your certification with

Complete EICs, EICRs, and minor works certificates on your phone. Join 1,000+ UK electricians. 7-day free trial, cancel anytime.

Try it free for 7 days
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Frequently Asked Questions About Electricity Meters

What electricians say

Verified reviews from the UK App Store.

One App for Everything!

Elec-Mate is my go to app for business and electrical work. It's feature rich without feeling cluttered. A true all in one app for quotes, certs, calculations, RAMS, EICRs, and more. I use it every day without fail, and it makes my workflow much smoother since I'm not jumping between apps anymore. The price-to-feature ratio is excellent. Any issues I've had, the developer responds within the hour and usually fixes them the same day. 100% recommend.

Apple App Store · GBR

Fantastic app for electricians

I've used the app and the web based version for a while now and it's well worth the investment. If you're an apprentice or experienced Spark give it a go, you won't be disappointed.

Apple App Store · GBR

Absolutely amazing

I've been using Elec-Mate for a while now, and honestly, it's one of the best apps I've ever downloaded. Every aspect of it feels thoughtfully designed, from the clean and intuitive interface to the powerful features that make everything so easy to manage. It's clear that a lot of care and attention went into building this app, and it shows in every detail.

Apple App Store · GBR

Trusted by electricians across the UK

Real feedback from real sparks

“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”

Daniel Palmer

Sole Trader · DP Electrical

“I've won two contracts this month because I could turn quotes around same-day with the AI cost engineer.”

Nathan Perry

Electrician · NP Electrical Services

“The study centre got me through my AM2. Mock exams and flashcards are brilliant.”

Jake Pizey

3rd Year Apprentice · Apprentice

7-Day Free Trial — Cancel Anytime, No Hassle

Are You an Electrician? Try Elec-Mate Free

Complete all your electrical certificates on your phone, including EICs for consumer unit work. Join 1,000+ UK electricians. 7-day free trial.

“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”

Daniel Palmer, DP Electrical

From £6.99/mo after trial — less than a coffee a week

or download the app
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
7 days free, then from £6.99/moCancel in one tap — no calls, no hassleiOS, Android & WebBS 7671 compliant
16
Certificate Types
70+
Calculators
46+
Training Courses
8
AI Agents

1,000+ electricians · From £6.99/mo after trial

App Store

We use cookies to improve the app and measure what works. Cookie Policy