The stakes around electrical safety standards, gas safety standards and other building regulations are high. Afterall, they are the legal obligations that keep our homes, offices and commercial buildings safe.
This importance means they get regularly reviewed and updated. In fact, these regulations are reviewed every single year, although these changes span all aspects of buildings.
Due to the scope of these changes, but also the wide field they cover, these updates don’t mean you need to rush out and get a new energy meter or overbox every year – but if you are looking to upgrade either of these, it’s always useful to know what regulations and safety standards apply.
We’re experts on all things meter box related, so we’ve put together this guide to explain everything you need to know about recent and relevant regulation changes. We’ll cover the Radio Teleswitch Service Switch Off, Smart Meter roll out and all the changes that came in during 2025 and will apply in 2026.
Changes to Energy Meter Regulations
The Radio Teleswitch Service Switch Off
Most of the recent changes around energy meters cover smart meters. In 2025, one change announced applied to the gradual phase-out of a particular type of energy meter – a Radio Teleswitch meter (RTS meter).
RTS meters use radio signals to switch automatically between peak and off-peak electricity rates. They are an older type of electrical meter that was often tied to Economy 7 Tariffs used to heat storage heaters and hot water tanks in off-peak periods to keep costs down.
In June 2025, a phased replacement programme was started in preparation to switch off radio teleswitch services. If you believe you have an RTS meter, you should speak to your energy supplier about being switched over to a new meter. Likely a smart meter.
Switching to a smart meter will have a lot of benefits, according to Ofgem and the Energy Savings Trust. So if you do need to change over, you don’t need to worry about the process costing you money. Your meter will be swapped for free, and you could even save money on your energy bills as a result.
If you don’t switch, your bills could increase, and you could even see an increase in what you pay.
Shorter Wait Times For Smart Meter Installation
It’s never been easier to switch to a smart meter, either. In 2025, energy regulator Ofgem reviewed its Guaranteed Standards of Performance around the installation of this meter type. They set out four situations where consumers will receive AUTOMATIC compensation:
- If a customer has to wait more than six weeks for an appointment to install your smart meter,
- If a smart meter installation fails due to something within the control of the supplier,
- If a supplier is unable to resolve any reported problems within 5 days,
- If a smart meter is unable to operate in smart mode for 90 days due to a need for repair.
What this means for you
The headline of this change is that you should no longer need to wait more than 6 weeks for a smart meter installation. If you’re one of the many people who already have a smart meter, the installation goals won’t affect you, but improving the standards around repairs will. If your meter develops a fault, you can expect it to be investigated and fixed quickly.
New Goal For Smart Meter Installation
Another change that happened around smart meters is the government setting a target to have 100% smart meter coverage by 30th December 2039. This means every home in the UK should have a smart meter by that date, and most ‘dumb’ meters should have been retired.
What this means for you
Access to a new smart meter has never been more important, and energy suppliers are being encouraged to deliver them as quickly as possible. If you want to replace your old meter, there should be nothing stopping you. Your energy supplier might even be extra proactive about it and contact you first.
Changes to Meter Box Regulations
Maintaining your meter box
The regulations around repairing your meter box itself remain the same in 2026: it is your legal responsibility to protect your energy meters by maintaining your meter box.
Regardless of whether you have a new smart meter or an older standard model, you need to protect the lifespan of your meter box, and that means keeping your meter box functioning at its best.
Locating your meter box
Another set of regulations that remain the same in 2026 is where you can put your meter box. The distance between your electrical meter box and your electrical panel remains the same – it should not exceed 3 metres.
Your meter box also needs to be located somewhere that is easily accessible to your energy supplier – even if it’s a smart meter.
This might feel counterintuitive as smart meters send your meter readings automatically. However, on the rare occasion a manual reading is needed, it is important that your energy company can do so without issues. This is also necessary to help with repairs.
Changes to your meter box
If you want to replace your meter box, there are no regulations that prevent you. You could even shift your box slightly if the meter within is not moved.
However, it is illegal to tamper with your energy meter in any way, and that includes moving it. If you decide it needs moving, you will need to contact your energy supplier to get the work carried out, which can be expensive.
These laws still apply in 2026, and apply equally to smart meters as they do to traditional meters. The regulation changes around repairs should mean you can get repairs to your energy meters actioned quickly and efficiently, so there is no need to attempt any yourself.
But if it’s just the over box that you want to replace, you are legally able to do that yourself. Buy an easy-to-fit overbox, and it’s a job so simple it can be done in under an hour by most people.
Maintaining your meterbox in 2026
Not everything around meter boxes has changed in 2026. In fact, many things stay the same – particularly around maintaining them or fitting a new one. If the time has come for you to repair or replace your meter box, our product range is bound to include a suitable fix at an affordable price.
Browse our products here to find what you need.