Smart meters

Smart meter installations are absolutely free for all our members. If you’re not already an OVO member, join us on our Better Smart energy plan for the lowest prices and get your smart meter installed for free.

We are only installing SMETS2 smart meters – the kind that work with all energy suppliers. If you already have a first generation smart meter (SMETS1) installed, you don’t need to do anything. These older meters are being upgraded remotely, so they’ll soon work with all suppliers too.

The UK government plans to get smart meters installed into every home and business by 2024, in their mission to reach zero carbon by 2050.

Smart meters can't collect personal information like your name, your address or your bank account details. Your meter can only collect meter readings, supply numbers and the meter serial number – and they're all protected by law. You can choose how often your smart meter shares this information with your supplier – half-hourly, daily or monthly. To find out how OVO protects your data, read our smart meter data guide.

Yes. But if you’re not an OVO member yet, you can sign up to our Better Smart tariff and get a smart meter installed for free.

Smart meters work in almost every home. But in some circumstances it might not be possible to install one just yet. Give us a call today and we can assess whether you’ll be able to have a smart meter installed.

No WiFi is necessary. The smart meter communicates with the supplier through a Wide Area Network (WAN) connection and with your IHD through a Home Area Network (HAN) connection.

Yes you can. Boost is the smart way to pay as you go. We’ll install a PAYG smart meter in your home for free. This will allow  you to take control of your energy use and top up any time you like, directly from your phone. If you’re looking to move away from a PAYG plan, you may be able to get a cheaper tariff with OVO. Get a quote in under 2 minutes, and find out how much our competitive rates could save you.

Yes! As long as you're the one paying the bills, you can get a smart meter. It’s a good idea to let your landlord know, just in case there are any rules in your contract against such changes. But landlords shouldn’t say no to a smart meter without good reason. Take a look at our Renter’s guide to smart meters for the complete lowdown.

Your smart meter will help you learn more about the energy you use, so that you can cut out waste – leading to lower energy bills. For example, it can show you how much it costs when you boil a kettle, or use the tumble dryer. This will help you make small changes to reduce your energy use and cut your bills. The automatic readings will also make your bills more accurate, so you only pay for what you use. But, if you don't take action to use less energy, you won't save any money just by getting a smart meter.

This can be done in 2 ways. Firstly – in your online account you can see how much energy you’ve used. Plus, it can give you lots of detailed insights that can help you better manage your energy. Secondly, the In-Home Display gives you instant real-time feedback which can help you make changes to cut use – keep it handy so you can glance at it during the day.

Your IHD is a small handheld screen which shows the energy use in your home. Read all about how to use it in our guide.

Like a traditional meter, smart meters have a number that counts up to show how much gas or electricity you've used. The main difference is that the numbers are on a screen, instead of an analogue dial. That means you can still read them like your old meter if you want to, but you won't need to share your readings with us because we'll get them automatically. Read our step-by-step instructions on how to read your smart meter.

Yes you can! Find out more in our guide about switching suppliers with a smart meter.

You can book an appointment to get a shiny next-generation smart meter (SMETS2) by visiting your online account or by calling us. If you have a first-generation (SMETS1) meter, the national upgrade will happen remotely and your meter should start sending readings to your supplier without needing a visit from an engineer.

The Smart Metering Installation Code of Practice (SMICoP) is a set of rules and standards to be followed when installing a new smart meter. Read our guide for more information.

Yes, smart meter appointments are safely going ahead - with strict safety measures in place. With new restrictions in place across the country, we're continuing to follow the government's advice.

We can only carry out appointments where it’s safe to do so. This means we still won’t be carrying out non-emergency appointments in homes where anyone is unwell or self-isolating from coronavirus.

We install smart meters because they help you to manage your energy better. Smart meters send readings automatically, so you get more accurate bills, and a clearer understanding of how you’re using energy - meaning you have a chance to cut energy use and carbon emissions. 

Our full risk assessment for smart meter operations can be found here and for office workers here. You can also see confirmation that we comply with the government guidance on Staying COVID-19 Secure here.

Our top priority is the same: to keep you and our teams safe. They're specially trained to take strict precautions while they're inside your home. We'll be following all the latest government guidance - including in areas where a local lockdown is in place: 

• On the day of your appointment, our team will call ahead to check it’s still safe to visit. They’ll ask if anyone in your household is unwell, or self-isolating. If this is the case, your appointment will need to be rescheduled.
• When the engineer arrives, they’ll check this again with you in person.
• Our engineers will wear masks while they're in your home. The only time they might remove their mask is when it's safe to do so - for example, if they're working alone in a room - and they'll always check with you beforehand. 
• Our engineers will also be observing social distancing, which includes asking you to stay safe in another room while they work. Wherever possible, please give the engineer space to work safely.  
• Our engineer may take more frequent breaks to get fresh air. They will also ask you to open windows and doors close to the meter for the duration of their visit.

To minimise the time our engineers spend in your home, they may work in a slightly different way to usual. This means that they might install a smart meter but not switch on its smart functions. Don’t worry, you’ll still be left with a working meter. And, if any of this happens we’ll return as soon as we can to finish the job. 

All our engineers will stop working immediately if anyone shows any symptoms of coronavirus, during their visit. 

Important: if you or anyone in your home feels unwell before your appointment, please give us a call on 0330 303 5063 and we’ll work through your options.

Unfortunately not. We’re taking strict measures to keep both you and our teams safe, so this means we’re not able to carry out smart meter appointments for people who are self-isolating. 

The only time we may carry out an appointment for people who are self-isolating, is if it’s an emergency, and you’re at risk of losing your gas or electricity supply.

Yes, no problem - you can reschedule the appointment by calling us on 0330 303 5063. 

Important: if you’re showing any symptoms of coronavirus, please make sure to reschedule for after the two week self-isolation period.

No, we won’t charge you a cancellation fee if you need to cancel because of a coronavirus-related situation, or if you become unwell.

We’re now able to carry out smart meter appointments everywhere we have engineers operating. You can check their availability here.

You can take the following steps to make sure things are as safe as possible: 

• Before your appointment, disinfect the area around your meter where the engineer will be working. Do this again after they leave.
• Open windows and doors in the room where the engineer will be working. 
• Make sure the engineer has clear access to your meters, and they’re free from clutter. 
• Stay at least 2m away from the engineer at all times. If possible, go into a different room while they’re installing your meter, and make sure pets are kept out of the way. 

We’ll call you the day before your appointment to check it’s still safe for us to visit. Please tell us if you or anyone in your household is unwell or self-isolating. When the engineer arrives, they will check this with you again. 

When you book, we’ll share even more info about what to do before, during and after your appointment, to stay as safe as possible.

If you’re not able to maintain social distancing of at least 2m during your appointment (because of the size/layout of your home or for any other reason) then please don’t book one. We won’t be able to carry it out safely. 

If you’ve already booked a smart meter appointment but you don’t think you’ll be able to maintain social distancing, please cancel. You can do this via your appointment confirmation email, through your online account or on our app.