Smart meters are digital gas and electricity meters that automatically send readings to suppliers, enabling accurate billing and real-time energy monitoring.
A smart meter is a digital meter that measures gas or electricity consumption and automatically transmits readings to energy suppliers via a secure wireless network. This eliminates estimated bills and manual meter readings.
| Generation | Network | Status |
|---|---|---|
| SMETS1 | Supplier-specific | Legacy, being upgraded |
| SMETS2 | DCC national network | Current standard |
Smart meters are essential for solar PV owners because they:
To receive export payments, solar owners need:
The UK government mandates that energy suppliers offer smart meters to all customers. Benefits include:
The MPAN is a 21-digit reference identifying electricity supply points in Great Britain, with a 13-digit core used for billing, switching, and industry communications.
The MPRN is a unique 6-10 digit number identifying every gas supply point in Great Britain, used for billing, switching suppliers, and industry data flows.
Meter Asset Managers are responsible for the ownership, installation, maintenance, and data management of gas meters throughout their lifecycle.
The Smart Export Guarantee requires licensed electricity suppliers to offer payment for exported renewable electricity from small-scale generators like solar PV.