guide

Landis+Gyr E470 smart meters: all you need to know

14 October 2021 | Matt Mostyn

Smart meters are great. These nifty digital gas and electricity meters send readings to your energy supplier automatically. Very handy. Unlike traditional meters, you can see how much energy you’re using in real time – thanks to something called an “In-Home Display”, which comes with a smart meter.

This means you can keep track of how much energy you’re using, which means smart meters can even help you spot ways to save energy. And did you know? Smart meters are a really important part of getting the UK ready for a future powered by renewables. 

Smart meters all do the same job, essentially. They check your energy use, then they send your energy supplier the readings – so you get a really accurate bill. The problem is there’s a confusing array of meters out there. And it’s not always easy to figure out which type yours is. Like whether you’ve got an older generation smart meter (SMETS1) or new generation smart meter (SMETS2).

You might also have questions about your smart meter – such as whether you can switch supplier and still keep your smart meter working properly. 

Here’s where you can find out everything you need to know about one of the UK’s most popular smart meters: the Landis+Gyr (L+G) E470 smart meter. Unfortunately, it can be a rather tricky one to identify! We’re here to help with that. 

What is a Landis+Gyr E470 smart meter?

The Landis+Gyr (L+G) E470 is one of the most common smart meters in the UK. But figuring out whether your Landis+Gyr E470 is SMETS1 or SMETS2 can be tricky. This is because the same model can apparently be either. 

In fact, as many as 6 different L+G electricity and gas meters all share the same model numbers – but could be either SMETS1 or SMETS2. And the newer SMETS2 versions look and feel so similar to the older versions, that it’s almost impossible to tell them apart. Not very helpful, right?

What type of meter is Landis+Gyr E470? 

That’s a good question! To find out how to check whether yours is SMETS1 or SMETS2, read on…

What does a SMETS1 Landis+Gyr E470 look like?

Here’s an example of an older (SMETS1) Landis+Gyr E470 smart meter:

SMETS1 Landis+Gyr E470 smart meter

There’s one key feature that helps you work out if your smart meter is the older (SMETS1) version: they have a separate comms hub next to the meter. In this instance, it’s the little white box labelled Trilliant SEAP-2001-V. And if you have one of these, your gas meter will also be SMETS1.

Find out more ways to work out whether your smart meter is SMETS 1 or SMETS2 in our complete guide to different smart meters, and how to tell them apart.

If I’ve got a SMETS1 smart meter, can I switch energy supplier without causing it to stop working properly? 

Unfortunately, with some energy suppliers, your SMETS1 smart meter might lose its “smartness” and turn into a traditional meter. If so, you’ll probably have to start giving monthly or half-yearly meter readings to your new energy supplier yourself. 

If you do run into smart meter problems after your transfer, you could find that your new supplier’s technicians and engineers aren’t familiar with your model of smart meter. If this happens, they might choose to replace your smart meter with a traditional one.

But if both your new and old supplier use the same type of smart meter, you should be able to carry on using your current equipment, and enjoying more or less the same level of functionality.

Will SMETS1 smart meters work with OVO?

It depends. Your SMETS1 meter could still work normally with OVO. But there’s a chance switching could mean it loses its smart functionality temporarily. This just means you’ll have to send us readings manually for a while.

If you’re not sure if your meter will work, it’s best to check with us first.

Existing SMETS1 meters are all getting a software upgrade (if they haven’t already) and moving onto the national smart meter network. All SMETS1 meters will eventually be remotely upgraded by the Data Communications Company (DCC) – which is also responsible for protecting your data. There's nothing you need to do to make this happen. This software upgrade will allow your SMETS1 meter to work on the same network used by SMETS2 meters. 

What does a SMETS2 Landis+Gyr E470 look like?

Here’s an example of a SMETS2 Landis+Gyr E470 smart meter:

SMETS2 Landis+Gyr E470 smart meter

Most SMETS2 L+G E470 meters look similar – though they might not have a supplier sticker, or a testing/demo reference. There can also be differences in size and the positioning of the buttons, depending on your model. One other giveaway that it is a SMETS2 is the comms hub that’s bolted to the top of the meter.

Check our complete guide to different smart meters, to learn more ways to work out whether your smart meter is SMETS1 or SMETS2.

Will the SMETS2 Landis+Gyr E470 work with any energy supplier?

Yes! All SMETS2 meters should work with any energy supplier – even if you’re no longer with the supplier who installed the meter.

How do I read a Landis Gyr E470 smart meter? 

Gone are the days of venturing into a dingy meter cupboard to get readings. Smart meter readings are sent automatically by your smart meter. But there may be times where you still want to take a reading yourself.

For instance, if you’ve switched energy suppliers and your smart meter isn’t yet compatible with your new supplier’s systems (which means you’d need to give manual readings). Or you might want to just look at the meter regularly yourself, so you can keep a closer eye on your energy use.

Your Landis Gyr E470 smart meter should show your reading automatically on its display screen. If you can't see it very well, press the A button a few times until you see the words Total Act Import on the screen. Beneath that, you should see your reading. The screen will light up, for better visibility.

If your meter’s on an Economy 7 tariff (where you pay a standard price during the day and a lower rate for 7 hours overnight), reading it will be a bit different.

For more info, check out our complete guide to smart meter reading.

I’m still confused. How to tell which smart meter I’ve got, and if it’s SMETS1 or SMETS2?

We know it can be tricky to work out. If you haven’t found answers here, you can also check the OVO Forum. It’s our community of OVO members, where people can share info on all sorts of helpful topics – someone else might have had the same issue. On the OVO Forum, you'll also find a useful tutorial on L&G meters by Blastoise186 – one of our Plan Zero Hero members. 

Not got a forum account yet? Click here to create one.

My Landis+Gyr E470 smart meter isn't working properly, and the In-Home Display has also stopped working – what can I do? 

If this happens, we recommend getting in touch with us (or your own energy supplier, if you’re not with OVO). You can do this via our online chat, or through the Help centre.

Having smart meter technical issues? Check out our smart meter troubleshooting guide for all the answers.

Which type of smart meters is OVO installing? 

We’re installing the new generation of smart meters (SMETS2) – and we install them for free. Having a smart meter really is great. They can help you save energy and keep track of what you’re using. A smart meter also means no more readings – and no more estimated bills. And it helps get the UK ready for renewables. Sold yet?

Find out more about the benefits of smart meters, and how to get one

Book your smart meter appointment with OVO

The easiest way to get your SMETS2 smart meter is to book a smart meter appointment online. Usually, you'll be able to choose an installation slot within the next 8 weeks. Simply log in and select an available appointment time and date.