In our last post, we looked at some commonly asked questions around smart meters. However, there are still many myths that persist around smart meters, both good and bad ones, that influence people’s choice in whether to get one or not.
So here we’re going to look at those myths, revealing the truth behind them to help you feel more confident in deciding whether you need to get one installed or not.
Getting a Smart Meter Will Increase My Energy Bills
FALSE.
Getting a smart meter will not change the price you pay for your energy – in fact, it may make you eligible for an even cheaper deal with your supplier.
The standing charge however, will stay the same, while your unit charge is dictated by the tariff you are on with your energy supplier.
The only way your bill may actively increase is if you have been underpaying. If you weren’t providing regular meter readings, your bills may have been based on estimates. As your smart meter will make sure regular readings are provided, your supplier will have the most accurate impression of how much energy you’re using, and if you were underpaying, this may mean an increase in bills.
Smart Meters Are Unsafe
FALSE.
Smart meters are not ‘new’ anymore. They’ve been around over a decade, meaning they have been tested and refined until they are just as safe as previous traditional meters.
When your new meter is installed, the engineer should carry out a number of tests to make sure the meter is working properly. They will also ensure it is safe. If a fault later develops, then your supplier will send out an engineer to investigate and resolve the issue within 90 days (according to government targets).
The only risk a smart meter risk can pose to your home is through incorrect installation. This is one of the reasons why you MUST have your new meter installed through your energy supplier.
Smart meters produce radiation, which is a risk to human health.
FALSE
There are concerns that the low-frequency radio waves that smart meters use to take readings pose a risk to human health.
Public Health England (PHE) says this is not the case.
They have researched exposure to smart meters heavily, and their results showed that they sat below the guidelines that are set out by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection.
In fact, they concluded that exposure created by smart meters was significantly lower than that of many everyday devices, such as TVs and mobile phones.
Smart meters function over your home WiFi
FALSE.
Smart meters obviously need to communicate with your energy supplier to provide readings, but they do this over a separate secure network – not your home wifi. Instead, they use WAN, which is similar to the one mobile phones use for data, run by the Data Communications Company and managed by the energy regulator OFGEM.
If you attach additional devices to control your energy, this may need to be hooked up to your WiFi to function, but the meter itself doesn’t.
There is an upfront cost to smart meter installation
FALSE.
According to government regulations, every home in the UK is eligible for a free smart meter installation. This means you do not have to pay for the meter itself or for the cost of installation – your energy supplier foots the bill.
If you wish to get a smart reader, you should contact your energy company who will install the meter free of charge.
Smart meters will leave you with inaccurate meter readings.
FALSE.
The entire point of smart meters is to increase accuracy, not reduce it. If you are concerned the bills generated by your smart meter are inaccurate, you should contact your energy supplier for an accuracy test.
You are legally entitled to an accuracy test, so they must provide one. The test is free if your meter is found to be faulty, but you will be charged if it is found to be working correctly.
Smart meter installation will disrupt my energy supply
TRUE.
The process of having an energy meter of any kind installed leads to very temporary energy disruption. Both your gas and electricity will need turning off for around 20 minutes during the process, so installation can be carried out safely.
However, after the meter is installed, there will be no further disruption to your supply.
Before leaving your home, the engineer installing your meter will check that your appliances (including your boiler) are still working and your energy supply has not been compromised.
Smart meters use a lot of energy that you need to pay for
FALSE.
You are not charged for the energy that is used by your electricity meter. This is the same for both dumb meters and smart meters.
Meanwhile, your gas meter is powered by an internal battery, rather than the mains. This means that it doesn’t use any of your energy either, and makes no impact on your bills.
A smart meter stops you needing to submit bills
TRUE.
The biggest appeal of smart meters is that they send your meter readings automatically. No more scrabbling around in your meter box every month to note down the numbers for your meter reading. It’s all done for you.
You HAVE TO GET a smart meter
FALSE.
There are a lot of advantages to having a smart meter, but if you don’t want one, you don’t have to get one.
Smart meter rollout is optional. If you have a reason against having one, then you will not be forced. However, if your meter has reached the end of its lifespan, and you need a replacement meter, your energy supplier may only be able to provide a smart meter due to availability.
In this situation, the ‘smart’ function can be switched off to leave your meter ‘dumb’ – it will not have access to an internet connection, and you’ll be left still submitting manual readings.
You can’t get a smart meter if you live in a rented home.
FALSE.
Every home is eligible to have a smart meter installed, even rented ones. If you pay the energy bills in your home, you are eligible to ask your supplier to install a smart meter.
Energy regulator Ofgem does recommend speaking to your landlord before arranging for an installation, but the benefits of a smart meter will continue once you leave, so there is plenty of incentive to support the installation.
You can’t switch energy suppliers with a smart meter.
FALSE.
Current smart meters are made to a standard design. This means that if you change energy suppliers, they will still be able to receive your meter readings without you having to change your meter or submit the readings yourself.
So if you are planning to get a smart meter installed now, you don’t need to worry about needing a new one if you change suppliers. However, if your smart meter was made before 2019, this may not be possible.
You need a specific meter box to cover a smart meter.
FALSE.
Smart meters have been designed to be a similar size and shape as traditional meters, meaning you won’t need a specific or special new meter box if you get one installed.
If your meter box is particularly old, tired, or damaged, then you may need to fix or replace it so that it can protect your new meter – but this would have been the case anyway.
Our plastic meter boxes are the perfect choice to pair with a smart meter as they are durable and easy to fit, with a smart look that will protect your new meter perfectly.
Best of all, they’re easy to fit, as you will need to do that yourself.
Smart meters have been introduced as a way to make your energy consumption as simple to track as possible. Hopefully, by dispelling the common myths, we’ve revealed how, but if you have any further questions, then the government can answer them here.
But no matter whether you’ve swapped to a smart meter or you’re sticking with a ‘dumb’ one, it is important you keep your energy meter protected with a strong, secure meter overbox. If your existing one is starting to fail, view our product range to find a fix – or read our ‘How To’ guides if you’re unsure what fix you need.