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Smart Meter Installation Costs

By Sam

Last updated 27th March 2025 - Reading time: 16 mins

At a Glance

The average cost to relocate an electric and gas meter is around £30.
The job will take approximately 1 to 2 hours to complete.

In this guide, you'll find the following:

A complete pricing breakdown which includes supply and additional costs, along with what such a task usually involves.
How long the job should approximately take and a general overview of what kind of jobs can be performed.
How to find and hire an electrician.

How much is installing a smart meter?

Smart meters are quickly becoming one of the most common choices for gas and electricity meters for households, offering all the information you need at your fingertips and helping you control your expenses.

Smart meter installation, on average, will cost between £30 and £70.

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If you want to find out more about fitting smart meters - read the guide below...

Average Cost of Smart Meter Installation:

Depending on the complexity of the job, it usually takes: 1 – 2 hours

£30

How Much Does a Smart Meter Cost?
- Smart Meter Installation Prices
Supply Only Costs
- SMETS 1
- SMETS 2
Additional Costs
Labour Costs and Timescales
What's Involved in a Smart Meter Installation?
Can I Install a Smart Meter Myself?
Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Smart Meter Installation
Hiring Contractors for Smart Meter Installation Checklist
Sources

How Much Does a Smart Meter Cost?

You'll be glad to hear that a smart meter installation does not cost anything upfront and is supplied and installed by your energy supplier.

The average cost of a smart meter is added to your energy bill the same way as a standard meter is, averaging at around £30 to £70 per household per month.

However, the price can differ depending on the size of the house and how much gas and electricity gets used, as well as the specific energy company, type of smart meter and the accessibility of your home.

The UK government set a goal for energy suppliers to offer smart meters to all homes by 2020. They reached 85% coverage in 2024, and completion is expected by the end of 2025, which is why smart meter prices are still low to encourage uptake.

How can a smart meter improve the energy efficiency of my household?

"It's all about using your services and device in a better and more effective way. The smart meter displays your usage, helping you remember to turn off lights and avoid standby mode when you're not around. This way, you stay in control and are more informed, allowing you to act more efficiently."

Unique Gas and Geating Solution

Smart Meter Installation Prices

As previously stated, there are no upfront costs for a smart meter installation. Still, you can manage your gas and electricity costs much more efficiently with the real-time display, as long as you monitor your usage.

Below is a general outline of how much money you can save when monitoring your gas and electricity usage:

Usage per month	Avg. cost per month	Avg. cost per year
250kWh	£35	£420
500kWh	£70	£840
750kWh	£100	£1,200
1,000kWh	£130	£1,560
2,000kWh	£200	£2,400
5,000kWh	£530	£6,360

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Supply Only Costs

There are currently two types of smart meters available for installation in your home: SMETS 1 and SMETS 2, standing for "Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications". The difference between the two is the generation and make of the models. However, both are free to install through your supplier.

SMETS 1

The SMETS 1 meter is the first edition of smart meters that were rolled out and are common in most households so far.

They communicate with your energy supplier via 3G, which can be a problem for some people as this means that if you change to a new supplier, it can lose its functions. When this happens, the device goes 'dumb' and regresses in operations to a traditional meter.

Pros

✔ 3G technology
✔ Accurate bills
✔ Track usage

Cons

✖ Goes 'dumb' if you switch supplier
✖ Reliant on signal
✖ In-home display may be inaccurate

SMETS 2

SMETS 2 are the new generation of smart meters currently being installed around the UK to help with the government's push for smart meter adoption by the end of 2025. This type of smart meter is an updated version of SMETS 1, which offers numerous extras to the original model.

Pros

✔ Feeds information to a central data network
✔ Secure
✔ Not reliant on mobile phones/data

Cons

✖ Can't handle a two-rate tariff
✖ Not eligible for renters without the landlord's permission
✖ The technology can be complicated for less-technically minded

Additional Costs

Whilst you have a qualified electrician out at your property, it may be worth undertaking other jobs within your household at an additional cost, saving you money in the long run. Below are a few potential jobs that you may need when installing a smart meter.

Removing Original Meters

This job has to be done by your current energy supplier as it is illegal to complete this job by yourself. The cost to move electric and gas meters can range anywhere between £400 to £1,000 and taking around 4 to 6 weeks.

If you want another supplier to move your meter, then you will have to switch to their company for your future energy bills.

Running Gas to Property

The cost of running gas to a property can typically be around £300 for a simple connection of 8 weeks, with a complex 12-week connection costing up to £1,000.

Although the cost upfront may be a lot, gas heating can be a lot cheaper and save you heaps of money in the long run.

Electrical Safety Certificate (EICR)

You may need to get an electrical safety certificate to ensure peace of mind on the status of the electrical circuits and appliances within your home.

It is not a legal necessity for households. However, it identifies many hazards and safety concerns for you and your family.

Electrical safety certificates cost around £80 to £150 in the UK depending on the size of the house, the complexity of the job and accessibility. It must also be completed by a certified electrician, who will conduct electrical checks in less than a day for a standard-size house.

I had a smart meter fitted, and now my shower only has hot water for 10 mins. Can this be related to my fusebox?

"It shouldn’t really affect your hot water at all. There might be some wiring that needs changing or checked. I would advise you to have your boiler checked over."

A2Z Star Heating and Plumbing Solutions

Labour Costs and Timescales

As stated, the labour costs are bundled in with your monthly fees with your supplier, and the installation process is free upfront.

The job itself can take anywhere between 1 to 3 hours depending on if you're having your meter installed for both gas and electricity or only one of them, with typically just one worker on the job unless they need assistance on a bigger home.

Whilst installing the smart meter, the qualified electrician from your energy supply company will have to turn off your gas and electricity for up to half an hour each, so make sure everything is sorted and used before they get there!

Once the smart meter has been installed, your engineer will show you how to use the system and in-home device, as well as answer any questions that you have and offer energy-saving tips.

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What's Involved in a Smart Meter Installation?

A smart meter installation is always done by a professional electrician who works for your energy supplier, or if you're switching to a new supplier, an employee of the new energy supply you're changing to.

You'll need to make sure that you clear the area of your original meter or desired space, unplugging any electric equipment. The entire process should take anywhere between 60 to 90 minutes.

Initial Inspections

Firstly, your energy supplier engineer will survey the area and inspect the home's boiler to get a lay of the land, as well as any other gas appliances within the property, to ensure they're safe and working.

Before removing your old meters, they will note down the final readings to make sure that your account is correct and up to date.

Installation

Prior to installation, the engineer will suspend the electricity and gas temporarily for around half an hour before swapping the meters, replacing the spot where the old meter was with the new smart meter, and turning the power back on.

Your engineer will inform you when they're about to turn everything off and make sure it fits in with your schedule.

Final Inspections

Once the smart meter has been fit and secured into place, the contractor will turn the gas and electricity back on and check that the supply is correct before relighting any of your boiler's pilot lights.

They will also test the smart device via a nearby plug socket to ensure there are no issues before answering any questions on saving energy and how to budget with your meter, as well as navigate the in-home display.

Can I Install a Smart Meter Myself?

In short, the answer is no - there is no way to install your own smart meter as a DIY job or a quick fix, as they have to be supplied and installed by your energy supplier.

However, it's an incredibly easy and straightforward process to fit a smart meter at no cost. Just contact your supplier and agree on a date for an electrician to come and install your smart meter, only taking a couple of hours!

Below is the average monthly cost of different energy supplies sourcing a basic 2 to 4-bedroom house with a standard gas and electricity tariff after a medium usage:

Energy supplier	Avg. cost per month
EDF Energy	£80
SSE Energy	£90
E. ON Energy	£75
British Gas	£78
Scottish Power	£77
Shell Energy Retail	£75

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Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Smart Meter Installation

There are no official building regulations or planning permissions when deciding on a smart meter installation. The government is aiming to install smart meters in all British households by the end of 2025, having already connected 33 million meters across 20 million UK households.

However, not everyone is eligible at this exact moment in time. If you're unsure of your eligibility, contact your energy supplier, and they'll be able to give you an estimated time frame for a free smart meter installation.

If you're currently desperate for a smart meter, then you may be able to switch to a tariff that needs a smart meter or switch to an energy supplier who can install a smart meter ASAP.

However, if you're unsure whether smart meters are being installed within your home area, you can register your interest online or to your supplier, which may speed up the process of installations within your local area.

The only issue that may alter or not allow a smart meter within your home is if your house does not receive data and can't communicate wirelessly, especially if your current meter is far away from your household.

Benefits of Having a Smart Meter

Smart meters are becoming increasingly popular now that our current climate is becoming technologically advanced with each passing day.

There are lots of benefits to smart meters and what they bring to your daily life, so don't be afraid if your energy company is rolling them out, as they're straightforward to use and efficient for your household.

Below are just a few of the advantages of installing a smart meter.

Monitoring

Smart meters are the best way to keep track of your real-time usage through their in-home display. With the in-home display, you can keep track of your gas and electricity usage and exact cost, helping you change the way you use your energy. Now you can see exactly where it's going.

There will also be no scary moments of realising you've run out of credit with your gas and electricity randomly shutting off, as you can set an automatic top-up to your meter in prepayment mode, all from the comfort of your home.

Budget Plan with Exact Billing

As well as monitoring, your in-home display allows you to see the exact amount of money you're spending on electricity and gas, helping you to budget more efficiently and make better decisions about which supplier to choose.

Your smart meter offers up information on a wider scope of tariffs on the current market, allowing you to compare prices and find a better deal.

Eco-friendly

One of the most popular reasons for wanting a smart meter is how efficiently it can reduce consumption and your carbon footprint! The dramatic shift to smart meters is a plan for Britain to house a cleaner and more flexible energy system, adapting to greener methods of generating energy.

This can be seen through electric vehicles, solar power and wind power, tackling climate change one household at a time.

How much am I looking at to get a smart thermostat installed? I know the cost of the thermostat is around £120, but how much roughly on top of that for it to be installed?

"To isolate electrics, disconnect, and remove the existing controls, then install new smart thermostat supplied by customer with a test on completion, £189 + VAT."

Plumbcall Plumbing & Heating Ltd

Hiring Contractors for Smart Meter Installation Checklist

When deciding on a contractor for your smart meter installation, you may not have as much choice as you'd like, as they usually come directly from your supplier. However, you have plenty of options on picking your supplier and ensuring you receive the best deal and work for your home!

Thoroughly search online and compare quotes for different energy suppliers, making sure you're deciding on the best deal for you with a company who're installing smart meters into homes quickly, efficiently and using up-to-date materials.

Below are a few questions you may want to ask your energy supplier before they send someone out to install your smart meter:

Make sure they are sending a qualified electrician who is authorised to install a smart meter with a Part P qualification and is part of a government-approved scheme found on the recommendation of BRAC (the Building Regulations Advisory Committee), as well as a trade body.
Ensure that the electrician they're sending has completed similar jobs to this beforehand and can answer your queries whilst helping you to work the device. Always ask for references and pictures from their previous clients.
Discuss and sign a written agreement before any work takes place in your home, making sure that you both have a clear outline of the job specification and what services will be included.
Find out if their electrician is insured and offers a guarantee for their work.
Before your electrician leaves, make sure they show you how to work the in-home display and answer any questions on how to use the device and how to efficiently save energy.

FAQs

How do you read a smart meter?

Smart meters and in-home displays are two different things - your smart meter is installed into your wall, whereas your in-home meter is a portable small touch screen device. To manually read your smart meter, you can log onto your in-home display unit, and that will quickly show you your daily, weekly, and monthly energy usage in terms of kilowatt-hours, money and carbon emissions.

What does a smart meter do?

Smart meters are connected via secure national communication networks through internet signals, which instantly forward your real-time energy usage to your energy supplier, ending the need to estimate monthly bills and manual readings of meters. They are much more eco-friendly, reduce carbon emissions, and help households save money by monitoring their energy usage.

Is there a difference between a smart thermostat and a smart meter?

Smart meters track and record your gas and electricity usage, providing real-time information which transfers back to your supplier whilst giving you the option to set up automatic payments.

Smart thermostats are devices which give you control of your heating and heat settings from your phone.

If I rent a property from a landlord, can I have a smart meter installed?

Smart meters can only be installed in a household by renters if they're directly paying for a traditional meter or paying the energy supplier for their gas and electricity. The national rollout of smart meters is an encouraging factor for landlords, so if you want a smart meter, it's best to speak to them to see if they're planning on installing one.

What is Economy 7 and 10 tariffs?

Economy 7 and 10 tariffs are designed to offer you cheap nightly electricity rates whilst being more expensive in the daytime. The difference between both is that Economy 7 allows for seven hours of a more affordable rate, whereas Economy 10 allows for ten hours of a cheaper rate.

However, not all Economy 7 and 10 providers are offering smart meters, so it's best to talk to your supplier before accepting a smart meter and possibly deciding to change to an energy supplier.

How can I ensure I'm as eco-friendly as possible?

The best thing about smart meters is their ability to provide more eco-friendly energy usage through constant real-time monitoring and accurate readings of your consumption. You can monitor your in-home display to figure out when you're using the most energy and find ways to lower usage during these times.

Do I need two separate smart meters for gas and another one for electricity?

Yes, you will! If you're a dual-fuel consumer, then you will need to have both meters replaced and re-fitted separately to two separate smart meters. The two devices will join together to relay information onto just one in-home display unless your gas and electricity come from different suppliers.